Ira Dreyfuss, Associated Press
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture 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 Wednesday after critics said the guidelines made the organic label seem less meaningful. The department's Agricultural Marketing Service, which oversees the guidelines, will work with industry representatives to clarify the standards, she said. She said the guidelines had stirred "a tremendous amount" of interest and concern.
Her announcement pleased the Organic Trade Association, an industry group.
"This is actually fantastic news. I have to say I'm very surprised," Katherine DiMatteo, the group's executive director, said Wednesday. "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 feared 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 be sold under the organic seal, as long as the animal had not received antibiotics for 12 months.
Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Vermont Democrat who 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.
The guidelines also would have allowed ground fish to be used as a protein supplement in livestock feed. Urvashi Rangan, a scientist at Consumers Union in Yonkers, N.Y., 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.
