Coalition Files Petition With USDA for NOP Peer Review Panel

November 18, 2002

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Coalition Files Petition With USDA for NOP Peer Review Panel

WASHINGTON--A coalition of public interestorganizations filed a petition with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inOctober, asking the agency to immediately create a peer review panel to overseethe accreditation process of the National Organic Program (NOP). The petitionersinclude the Center for Food Safety (CFS), the National Campaign Against theMisuse of Pesticides, the National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, theRural Advancement Foundation International-USA and the Union of ConcernedScientists.

The petitioners note that the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA),which created the NOP, specifically calls for creation of a peer review panel toevaluate NOP's adherence to its accreditation procedures and decisions."The agency's refusal to allow for independent oversight of its actionsthreatens the integrity of the 'organic' label," said Andrew Kimbrell,executive director of CFS (www.centerforfoodsafety.org)."The decision on who is to certify organic foods needs to be in full viewof the public, where it can not be influenced by corporate interests."

In its petition, the organizations note that consumer- andfarmer-based certifiers are concerned that a lack of outside oversight couldcompromise the quality of the certification organizations. They also note thatthey fear large agribusiness corporations could have an undue influence on whowould be certifying organic producers.

Also of concern is the appearance of a large number ofpreviously unknown certifying agents applying to USDA for accreditation. Since2000, the number of organic certifying agents has jumped from 49 to 122. Thepetitioners said the significant increase may hinder USDA's ability to properlyassess certifiers' qualifications.

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