--------- Begin forwarded message ---------- From: John Hammell <[log in to unmask]> Subject: LETS FLOOD 'EM BY APRIL 30th! USDA Organic Food Labels Date: Tue, 21 Apr 1998 19:16:23 -0400 Please print out a copy of this letter or write your own, sign it and mail it to Eileen S. Sommers of the USDA regarding the "new" labeling of so-called organic foods. Please mail this ASAP to reach the USDA by the April 30th deadline. Thanks!!!! To: Eileen S. Sommers Deputy Administrator, USDA-ATS-TM-NOP Room 4007 So, Ag Stop 0275 PO Box 96456 Washington, DC 20090-6456 I am extremely concerned about the USDA's proposed National Organic Program (NOP) now being submitted for public comment. The NOP Rules completely disregard the long-established meaning and practices of organic agriculture and instead allow a huge number of injurious farming methods, synthetic substances, chemical adulterants and toxic constituents to qualify for a federal organic label. These include but are not limited to irradiating food, using toxic sewage and industrial sludge as fertilizer, allowing genetically manipulated organisms in crops and food, permitting confinement factory-farm operations and allowing synthetic food processing aids, adulterants and additives. In fact, none of these or some 60-plus other allowances outlined in the NOP Rules have EVER been considered Organic or permitted as such in the marketplace by the existing state, national and international organic certification organizations. This program will completely gut the meaning of Organic and allow spurious products in the marketplace. In addition, USDA's proprosed excessive fee stucture will automatically disenfranchise a large number of existing organically certified family farmers and will put many of the organic certification organizations out of business. Further, under the bogus USDA Organic label, farmers, processors, and retailers will be prohibited from identifying products in the store based on production practices. Consumers, parents, personal health supporters, environmental advocates and many others will definitely lose their freedom of choice, and we are not going to be happy about it. Finally, USDA's actions regarding the formulation and execution of the NOP should be investigated immediately. They have definitely pulled a bureacratic end run around the letter and intent of the original Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) and are in clear violation of a great number of its precepts. USDA should be required to start over and come up with a valid NOP based on the OFPA mandates, accepted international standards, and the comments of the National Organic Standards Board, without giveaways to the special interests. I look forward to your response at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, ****************************************** Donations Needed- Need Help to Keep Helper On International Advocates for Health Freedom John C. Hammell, Legislative Advocate 2411 Monroe St. Hollywood, FL 33020 USA 800-333-2553, 954-929-2905, FAX 954-929-0507, [log in to unmask] http://www.iahf.com HERBS ARE _NOT_ DRUGS! HELP PASS HR 2868 THE CONSUMER HEALTH FREE SPEECH ACT!!! --------- End forwarded message ----------