FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Bill Burton
February 26, 2003
202-224-3652

      HARKIN PROMOTES LEGISLATION TO
REVERSE WEAKENING OF ORGANIC LABEL

A bipartisan group of Senators, including Tom Harkin (D-IA), is
introducing a bill today that would repeal a rider to the recent
omnibus appropriations bill that created a broad exemption to
the feed requirements for organic animal production.  This rider
would allow animal products (meat, eggs, dairy) to carry the
organic label even without the use of organic feed, unless USDA
can prove that organic feed is commercially available for less
than twice the price of conventional feed.



The last-minute rider was never debated in either house, although
it effectively guts the livestock requirements set by the
National Organic Program by allowing livestock fed conventional
feed to be labeled as “organic”.  The bipartisan bill being
introduced today would  undo this rider.



“Since consumers are willing to pay a premium for
organically-fed meat and poultry, why should Congress
deny them what they want by devaluing the organic label?”
asked Harkin.



This feed exemption would be tremendously damaging
to the organic industry which is the fastest-growing segment of
American agriculture, with over $11 billion in sales.  In
addition, consumers have responded favorably to the new organic
labeling program.



“Iowa has a big stake in this debate.  Iowa is the second largest
producer of organic corn and soybeans, and an organic feed
exemption just takes money directly out of Iowa organic farmer’s
pockets,” said Harkin.



The rider would allow animal products to be labeled “organic”
even though they are not raised on organically-grown feed as
required by organic regulations.  Certain poultry producers
had previously requested this exemption from USDA last summer,
but USDA Secretary Veneman denied the request.



Harkin said, “Labeling a chicken as ‘organic’ even though it
was fed non-organic feed is like calling orange-colored sugar
water ‘Florida orange juice’ with the excuse that Florida
oranges are too expensive.  This provision is simply a blatant fraud
upon consumers slapped together in the dead of night.”

 “The willingness of Congress to stand behind the fundamental
principles of organic food production is critical to the integrity of
the organic seal. Organic agriculture is built upon trust; consumers
trust that products carrying the organic seal have been
produced and processed in accordance with organic standards.”

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