Organic controversy

This article was originally published in July 2014

PCC has sent a letter of protest to the Secretary of Agriculture about significant changes to the voting process for the “sunset” of synthetics in the National Organic Program (NOP).

Instead of requiring a two-thirds vote by the National Organic Standards Board to keep a synthetic in use, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it will require a two-thirds vote to remove a synthetic from use. In effect, the change means only six votes (instead of 10) will be needed out of 15 to keep a synthetic in use.

PCC agrees with the co-authors of the 1990 Organic Food Production Act, Sen. Leahy and Rep. DeFazio, that the changes violate the intent and letter of the law. We’re asking USDA to reverse the changes.

Read the letter to the USDA and NOP »

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