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OMRI Assists National Organic ProgramDecember 20, 2000For immediate release
Contact: Kathleen Downey
EUGENE, OR.-Representatives of the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) applauded today's release by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) of national organic standards, and look forward to continuing to play a vital role in the future of the National Organic Program.
"We are pleased that the rule creating a uniform set of US standards for the organic label has finally been published after ten years of work," says Bill Wolf, president of the OMRI board of directors. "This is a milestone that will move the organic industry forward and help create global confidence in organic foods grown and processed in the United States. OMRI looks forward with great enthusiasm to its evolving role in the education, research and facilitation of global harmonization of organic standards, as well as assisting with the burden of government through our ongoing review programs," Wolf says.
OMRI conducted technical advisory panel (TAP) reviews for the National Organic Standards Board, a citizens' advisory board which makes recommendations about the federal organic standards to USDA. These reviews became part of the body of information from which a National List of allowed and prohibited substances was created. OMRI is continuing to advise the NOSB as this board works to amend and revise the National List in response to an open public petition process.
OMRI's role in the growing organic marketplace will include maintaining and
distributing its brand name product list, an essential tool for organic
certifiers auditing organic farming and processing practices under the
provisions of the new rule. The National List provides only generic names of
allowed and prohibited
materials, and OMRI provides a U.S.-based brand name list for certifiers
and the
public to reference.
"We're very pleased that OMRI's brand name review program, which helps
people identify which products are in compliance, will be more viable and
valuable than ever," Wolf says. "The brand name product list will facilitate
trade and assist certifiers, and the OMRI seal will act like the UL seal to
provide consumer confidence and guarantee consistency with USDA rules."
OMRI board VP Peter Murray also noted that questions and concerns arising
from materials use, standards compliance, and product formulation continue
to resist easy, non-science based answers. "OMRI will continue to provide
leadership and guidance to the organic community in partnership with USDA's
National Organic Program."
Karen Anderson, Executive Director of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, an organic certification agency and OMRI subscriber, says, "Most certifiers do not have the ability or resources needed to perform a professional, technical review of materials used in organic systems. We highly value OMRI's expert service in this essential area and find that it enables us to better focus the use of our personnel to deliver a high quality certification program."
National organic standards are mandated by the Organic Food Production Act of 1990. OMRI will assist certification organizations and product suppliers in the necessary interpretation and implementation of the new rules.
OMRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1997 to provide professional, independent and transparent review of materials and compatible processes in the production, processing, and handling of organic food and fiber.
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