Organic Products Containing Accessory Nutrients Manufactured in Good Faith

OTA welcomes NOP assurance that products remain in good standing during clarification period

GREENFIELD, Mass., April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In a regulatory process clarification, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program (NOP) has asked the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) to reevaluate its recommendation for nutrient vitamins and minerals currently used in organic products. This request calls for formal review of the 1995 NOSB recommendation and the allowance of accessory nutrients such as Omega-3 DHA for specific inclusion on the National List of permitted substances in organic and is based on NOP's reinterpretation of past procedural actions. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) commends NOP for recognizing that the affected products were offered by manufacturers in good faith.

"It is important to remember that the affected products remain in good organic standing with NOP, and will continue to be found on store shelves while the National Organic Standards Board reviews the specific ingredients," said Christine Bushway, OTA's Executive Director.

She added, "Consumers have enjoyed, trusted and chosen these products because they are looking for both certified organic products and supplementation with specific nutrients. OTA is pleased that the safety and efficacy of these added nutrients are not in question, but rather the process by which they were approved for use in these products." Bushway noted that Omega-3 DHA and other accessory nutrients continue to be recognized as safe for use in human and pet food products.

OTA welcomes the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA's) commitment to making future policy decisions in a transparent manner with full notification and public input. Following this policy is critical to the integrity of organic products and to provide the market stability required for farmers, ranchers and food manufacturers to continue to invest and offer high quality products consumers demand, while enhancing rural livelihoods and environmental quality.

"OTA looks forward to seeing these materials go through the needed petition process and National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) review. OTA is pleased that USDA is not intending to disrupt business, but is allowing time for these materials to be reviewed for possible inclusion on the National List of approved materials," Bushway added.

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is the membership-based business association for organic agriculture and products in North America. Its members include growers, shippers, processors, certifiers, farmers' associations, distributors, importers, exporters, consultants, retailers and others. OTA's Board of Directors is democratically elected by its members. OTA's mission is to promote and protect the growth of organic trade to benefit the environment, farmers, the public and the economy (www.ota.com).

SOURCE Organic Trade Association