EU to Promote Organic
The demand for organic foods is growing by 40 percent a year in the UK and much of Europe, according to the UK’s Soil Association, but it took the specter of the spread of Mad Cow Disease and a looming mountain of unwanted beef for the EU to actively promote it. In a dramatic shift from intensive farming methods designed to yield maximum 
beef production, the European Commission announced a plan to boost organic farming and reduce beef stock density. The plan includes incentives for farmers to plant organic fodder crops and subsidies for farms with fewer animals.
Germany plans to boost organic farming to 10 percent of Germany’s farmland within five years by re-directing government subsidies to the tune of US$5 billion to organic farming.
U.S. Releases Organic Standard
In the U.S., the final national organic standards were released on December 20. Then Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman called the 500-plus page document “the strongest and most comprehensive organic standard in the world.” There will now be an 18 month transition period for the industry to comply with the standard. Noted Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, “It’s a government program and we’ve voluntarily given up a piece of our ownership, just like an acquisition or a merger, and it feels different.” The certification organizations will now have to be certified by the government and will lose some of their autonomy. “I think the first 20 months that we have to get into compliance are going to be very bumpy,” she said. But even as a work in progress, the rule will help the industry grow. Confidence by consumers will continue to drive the marketplace. There will be consistent standards and labeling for all organic products marketed in the United States. No longer will there be questions concerning what ‘organic’ stands for, or whether the process has been certified.”
Products must meet these standards:
* a product that contains 100% organic ingredients can carry the label “100% Organic” and the USDA organic seal.
* products that contain at least 95% organic ingredients, excluding water and salt, can carry the label, “Organic” and carry the USDA organic seal.
* products with a minimum of 70% organic ingredients can list up to 3 ingredients on the front of the package with the label “Made with Organic Ingredients.” No USDA seal may be used.
* organic ingredients for products with less than 70% organic ingredients can be listed on the label, but the word organic cannot otherwise be used.
* all products must be certified by a USDA-accredited organic certification agency. The name and address of the agency must be on the package.
The Bush Administration appointed Ann Veneman as Secretary of Agriculture, the first female to head the department. She worked her way up to deputy secretary at the USDA during her seven years there, from 1986-1993. She is an attorney as was employed by a private law firm before accepting this appointment. When she was Secretary of Agriculture in California she was not very involved in the organic program, and the Organic Trade Association so far rates her as neutral. Many environmental groups voiced concerns regarding her appointment, but DiMatteo says, “Glickman eventually became a supporter and maybe that can happen in this case too.”
National Organic Program: [sorry this link is no longer available]
Organic Trade Association: http://www.ota.com
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