[MPWG] QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Certification Schemes

[Steve Diver]

Allow me to say that this viewpoint from Fred Hays on organic
certification and the history of organic certification is a rather
skewed and jaded opinion.

I was involved with organic certification with the grassroots
organizations going back to the early 1980s.  The system in
place for many years was admirable and professional, based
largely on international IFOAM standards.  

The National Organic Standards resulted from intense
lobbying efforts to standardize certification and reduce
minor variances between programs.  International
trade and standardization is a major factor in modern
organic markets.

The USDA program is currently working very well.  The
standards are there, organic inspection is there, certification
and record keeping is there.  

Human beings from many walks of life are very concerned
about food safety and food quality.    The organic program
is an eco-label that provides assurance to the consumer
that foods labeled organic have met standards of production.

ATTRA, where I work, has supported organic farmers
for over 15 years.  Please feel free to examine the organic
documentation forms on the ATTRA web page.

There are certain aspects of the NOP that farmers would
like to see improved.  In my experience it needs to be
more dynamic and flexible when needed adjustments
are brought to attention. But on the whole there is
no mystery about the NOP program, there is no
question that it is very legitimate and professional. 

Frankly, if anybody wants to explore organic certification
it is widely available. 

Of prime importance as it relates to medicinal plants,
and organic foods and produce of all kinds, is quality.

The nutritional quality of organic food products and
medicinal herbs has many interesting topics, from
innovative quality tests to agronomic methods to
enhance nutritional components.

Steve Diver
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.ncat.org


Center for Sustainable Resources wrote:
 >Patricia mentions the organic standards we now have. I can' think of a 
better example of what not to >do. Those standards have become 
meaningless since the USDA intervention. The intervention >resulted 
because many little organic factions accrross the country were trying to 
impose their own >standards and charge fees for it etc. The term organic 
is simply a feel good thing for certain groups >especially what we call 
the yuppies. It has nothing to do with quality or even the way something 
 >was produced.

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