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Agriculture Department yanks rules that weakened organic labeling

By Ira Dreyfuss
The Associated Press

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Agriculture Department is dropping new organic food guidelines that allowed limited use of pesticides and antibiotics and drew criticism from some consumer groups and organic farmers.

Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced the action yesterday after critics said the guidelines made the organic label seem less meaningful. The Agricultural Marketing Service, which oversees the guidelines, will work with industry representatives to clarify the standards, she said.

In a telephone briefing, Veneman said the guidelines had stirred "a tremendous amount" of interest and concern. Her announcement drew approval from small-scale farmers and the Organic Trade Association, an industry group.

"We're pleased as punch," said Andrew Stout, co-owner of Full Circle Farm in Carnation, a 140-acre farm that grows fruits, vegetables and herbs without using any pesticides. "It signals an awareness from the federal government that what we do as small, local producers matters."

Small farms had argued that allowing any use of pesticides and antibiotics would encourage larger farms to aspire to only the minimum levels, diluting the value of the organic label.

Katherine DiMatteo, executive director of the Organic Trade Association, called the announcement "fantastic news."

"I have to say I'm very surprised," DiMatteo said yesterday. "We didn't think the secretary would take action either this quickly or make a move to rescind all of them, but it's exactly what we wanted."

Organic supporters have said they were concerned that the new guidelines and enforcement directives created loopholes in the national organic standards.

The rules would have allowed producers to use pesticides that may contain inert chemical ingredients if a "reasonable effort" cannot determine what the ingredients are.
 
They also would have let milk from cows treated with antibiotics to be sold under the department's organic seal, as long as the animal did not receive antibiotics for 12 months.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vermont, was a key supporter of starting the organic labeling program, said it was welcome news that "the secretary has decided to follow the law and to consult with the National Organic Standards Board." The board recommends policy to the department.

The organic program's credibility was built on full participation by the public and the industry, and "we need to keep it that way," Leahy said in a statement.

The guidelines also would have allowed ground fish to be used as a protein supplement in livestock feed.

A scientist at Consumers Union in Yonkers, N.Y., Urvashi Rangan, said the provisions weakened the value of the label, and she cited fishmeal as an example. Fish are not certified as organic, and some fish contain mercury and other chemicals, she said.

Agriculture Department spokeswoman Julie Quick said the department's National Organic Program, which oversees organic certification, will work with members of the National Organic Standards Board and other industry officials.

Asked if the guidelines were dead, Quick said that would depend on the outcome of discussions between the department, the board and the industry.

Consumer and organic groups have said the department should have checked with the board before issuing new guidelines.

Jim Riddle, chairman of the National Organic Standards Board, said the department's decision to hear from the board is "refreshing." The agency often has ignored the board's recommendations, he said.

Riddle said the board might make new recommendations on the guidelines at its mid-October meeting in Washington.

Stout, the organic farm owner in Carnation, said Veneman's announcement was "a welcome change. It's a different USDA than I expected to be working with."

"I think it will start to build faith in the organic label to consumers," Stout said. "But also to all those producers, it says that the label has integrity."

Seattle Times business reporter Jake Batsell contributed to this article.