The National Organic Program administered by the USDA has recognized a problem of fraudulent claims regarding organic status of products entering the marketplace including the use of false NOP certificates and other misrepresentations with respect to NOP requirements. During 2010, six operations were issued with civil penalties for selling organic products without certification.
Penalties have also been levied as a result of misrepresenting agriculture products.
The NOP is now evaluating the performance of certifying agents. An analysis of 40 audit reports in 2010 denoted significant noncompliance especially with regard to reviewing organic systems plans, scheduling and conducting inspections and conflicts of interest. Based on these revelations, the NOP has justifiably developed improvements in their accreditation programs.
The major components will include in-depth training with a focus on aspects of noncompliance, web-based instructional programs and increased outreach and technical assistance for certifying agents. The NOP intends to repeat the evaluation of audit reports in September 2011 and will develop new recommendations to improve the accreditation program for 2012.
According to NOP literature, ensuring that certifying agents implement a quality audit process is critical to protecting the integrity of the image of organic products bearing the NOP Seal and to maintain consumer confidence.
Showing posts with label National Organic Program. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Organic Program. Show all posts
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
National Organic Program offers bi-monthly newsletter for poultry producers
The National Organic Program issues an "Insider Bi-Monthly Report" to guide poultry producers. The November/December newsletter contains information of relevance to organic eggs, including highlights from the Fall 2010 meeting of the National Organic Standards Board held in late October in Madison, Wis.
Other topics reviewed include harmonization with regulations in Canada, fraudulent claims for organic status, outdoor access for organic poultry, and use of chlorine based materials in organic production.
Other topics reviewed include harmonization with regulations in Canada, fraudulent claims for organic status, outdoor access for organic poultry, and use of chlorine based materials in organic production.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Synthetic methionine request for organic feed
Paul H. Patterson of Pennsylvania State University has requested an amendment to the relevant provision in the National Organic Program Rule {7 CFR #205.603 (d) (1)} on behalf of the organic program’s Methionine Task Force. The submission requests continuation for inclusion of the amino acids DL-methionine and DL-methionine hydroxy analog in diets fed to laying hens at a level of 0.2%.
Some farmers affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program maintain that inclusion of synthetic methionine is contrary to the spirit of organic production, even though commercially available methionine supplements are biochemically identical to the natural counterpart and are metabolized in the same way.
Incorporating non-genetically engineered corn cultivars with high lysine and methionine content into organic feed is considered a non-viable option, based on the practical difficulties of segregating these products through the production chain. Even if achievable, the cost of segregation would inflate the cost of organic-certified eggs.
There are concerns that failure to allow incorporation of synthetic methionine in diets could seriously depress efficiency of production and indirectly lead to higher mortality. Synthetic vitamins produced commercially by fermentation are allowed under current organic rules, while synthetic lysine produced by fermentation is disallowed.
Some farmers affiliated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program maintain that inclusion of synthetic methionine is contrary to the spirit of organic production, even though commercially available methionine supplements are biochemically identical to the natural counterpart and are metabolized in the same way.
Incorporating non-genetically engineered corn cultivars with high lysine and methionine content into organic feed is considered a non-viable option, based on the practical difficulties of segregating these products through the production chain. Even if achievable, the cost of segregation would inflate the cost of organic-certified eggs.
There are concerns that failure to allow incorporation of synthetic methionine in diets could seriously depress efficiency of production and indirectly lead to higher mortality. Synthetic vitamins produced commercially by fermentation are allowed under current organic rules, while synthetic lysine produced by fermentation is disallowed.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Less than 1% of US farmland used for organic products
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a survey finding that less than 0.5% of U.S. farmland is used for raising organic crops and livestock—a total of 14,450 farms on 4.1 million acres, compared with a total of 2.2 million farms on 922 million acres, according to The Wall Street Journal. Organic farms accounted for $3.16B in sales in 2008.
California accounts for a fifth of U.S. organic farm operations and more than a third of sales, the survey found.
California accounts for a fifth of U.S. organic farm operations and more than a third of sales, the survey found.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
USDA 'organic' label questioned
Jack Cooper of the Food Industry Environmental Network has circulated a commentary based on a July 3, 2009, Washington Post report alleging that products labeled with the "Organic" seal may not comply with the standards of the National Organic Program.
The Inspector General's Office of the USDA has initiated an investigation into the oversight of private certifiers and the level of adherence to the rigid standards imposed by the statutory regulations. At issue is whether consumers paying a premium for the USDA Organic seal are in fact assured that all the requirements relating to non-GMO ingredients and freedom from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are met.
The Inspector General's Office of the USDA has initiated an investigation into the oversight of private certifiers and the level of adherence to the rigid standards imposed by the statutory regulations. At issue is whether consumers paying a premium for the USDA Organic seal are in fact assured that all the requirements relating to non-GMO ingredients and freedom from pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are met.
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