Does Sen. Harkin support including irradiated food in the organic standard? If
so, that would be analogous to this issue and the question is a good one. Is
that what he has pushed for?

Eric G. Hurley

> So why does Harkin support food irradiation??
> Tom Mathews
>
> In a message dated 03-02-26 10:56:39 EST, you write:
>
> << why am I not surprised?
>  ----- Original Message -----
>  From: "Debbie Neustadt" <[log in to unmask]>
>  To: <[log in to unmask]>
>  Sent: Tuesday, February 25, 2003 11:38 PM
>  Subject: Harkin Press Release on Organic Legislation
>
>
>  > 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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