USDA Implements National Standards To Define Organic Foods
After more than 10 years of deliberation, national standards controlling how organic products are produced and labeled went into effect on October 21. The goal of this new program, entitled the National Organic Program (NOP), is to oversee a mandatory certification of organic production providing standards that clearly define what organic means. Under the guidelines, food deemed organic cannot be grown using petroleum-based fertilizers or synthetic pesticides and cannot be altered with genetically modified organisms, growth hormones and antibiotics. Also, organic products will not be allowed to undergo irradiation treatments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's NOP eliminates a patchwork system of state regulation by setting up four labeling categories, making it easier for shoppers to know what percentage of a product is organic. An example of one of the labeling categories is that if there are at least 95% organic ingredients in a product it may bear the USDA certified organic seal. Source: www.naturalproductsinsider.com
After more than 10 years of deliberation, national standards controlling how organic products are produced and labeled went into effect on October 21. The goal of this new program, entitled the National Organic Program (NOP), is to oversee a mandatory certification of organic production providing standards that clearly define what organic means. Under the guidelines, food deemed organic cannot be grown using petroleum-based fertilizers or synthetic pesticides and cannot be altered with genetically modified organisms, growth hormones and antibiotics. Also, organic products will not be allowed to undergo irradiation treatments. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's NOP eliminates a patchwork system of state regulation by setting up four labeling categories, making it easier for shoppers to know what percentage of a product is organic. An example of one of the labeling categories is that if there are at least 95% organic ingredients in a product it may bear the USDA certified organic seal. Source: www.naturalproductsinsider.com