OMRI PROVIDES RESOURCES ON GENETIC ENGINEERING January 19, 2000 For immediate release Contact: Kathleen Downey OMRI Executive Director 541-343-7600 541-343-8971 fax EUGENE, ORE.-Organic growers, processors, handlers and certifiers can now access the Organic Materials Review Institute's "Brand Name Product List" online at www.omri.org. OMRI has also posted 16 Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) reviews that were conducted for the U.S. National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). As the NOSB votes on the reviewed materials are available, results will be posted to the omri.org site. EUGENE, ORE. - In response to a growing number of questions in the past year from growers, manufacturers, and consumers about genetic engineering in organic farming and food systems, and in keeping with its mission to provide technical information to the organic community, the Organic Materials Review Institute has posted the following information at www.omri.org: Comments on the National Academy of Science's Workshop on Genetically Modified Plant Pesticides, May 1999 Comments to EPA on proposed permits for new strains of Bt corn, Jan. 2000 Names and addresses of testing services that test for genetically modified crops and products Comments to FDA on labeling of GE products, Jan. 2000 A link to the regularly updated list of GMO products on the Union of Concerned Scientists website A review of current OMRI policy which states the use of genetically engineered organisms or their products are prohibited in any form or at any stage in organic production, processing, or handling. OMRI has actively participated in the organic community's exploration of this issue on many fronts, including providing an advisory role to the Organic Trade Association Task Force on genetically modified organisms. OMRI will be collecting data for a survey of producers and manufacturers who are willing to share GMO testing results. OMRI has also initiated a process to further evaluate and define its policies regarding generic materials and brand name products that may contain or be derived from genetically modified crops or organisms. OMRI's Advisory Council is charged with developing this policy, with the objective of providing scientific criteria for evaluating products and inputs to organic agriculture to enable avoidance of GMO products.