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Beginning on 21 October, it will become mandatory for all American producers that sell more than USD 5,000 a year in organic agricultural products to seek certification from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sell, label or represent products as organic. Former Agricultural Secretary Dan Glickman believes the new USDA certification process to be the “strongest and most comprehensive in the world.” Foreign goods will also be required to meet the same standards to be classified as organic through a certified agency recognised by the USDA or through an equivalent program approved by the department. The USDA scheme will consist of three types of labels certifying products as: (1) ‘100% Organic’, (2) other ‘Organic’ goods containing 95 percent organically produced ingredients, (3) and ‘Made with Organic Ingredients’ which must contain at least 70 percent organic ingredients. Only the ‘100% Organic’ or ‘Organic’ products will be permitted to affix the USDA Organic Seal. Some see this new formalization as a “boost” to the organic sector that, while relatively new, has grown at least 20 percent annually for the past ten years.
“Organic Foods to Get New Seal of Approval,” ENS, 2 October 2002.
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