Leahy Bill Repeals Anti-Organic Rider

WASHINGTON--On April 3, the Senate voted to repeal a special interest rider enacted in February that would have undermined the six-month-old National Organic Program (NOP). The anti-organic rider (Section 771 in the 2003 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, introduced as bills S.457 and HR.955 in the Senate and House, respectively) was signed into law by President Bush Feb. 20 and will allow meat and dairy manufacturers to label their products "organic"--even if the animals were not fed organically grown feed.

Sens. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Larry Craig (R-Idaho) led the movement to repeal the rider, which is cosponsored by 51 other senators.

According to the Organic Trade Association (OTA), the anti-organic rider, as written, will not allow any funds to be used to enforce the 100-percent organic feed requirement for certified organic livestock operations unless a report prepared by the Secretary of Agriculture confirms organically produced feed is commercially available at no more than twice the cost of conventionally produced feed to meet current market demand. In mid-March, OTA (www.ota.com) had a poll conducted by RoperASW to feel out consumer opinion regarding this issue; 61 percent of respondents stated they did not want milk, eggs, poultry or meat to be labeled "organic" if the animals were raised on feed containing antibiotics, hormones and pesticides, which Section 771 allowed.

"Getting the organic standards right was a long and difficult process, but it was a turning point for the industry," Leahy said in a statement. "This fight to keep the standards strong is another watershed moment for organic agriculture. It shows that organic producers and consumers want the organic label to mean what it says."

According to Leahy, the anti-organic rider would have benefited a particular Georgia producer, but was written in a broad manner that created loopholes for any livestock producer to get around the organic feed requirement. "If a few beef, poultry, pork and dairy producers are able to label their products `organic' without using organic feed, then what exactly is organic about their products?" Leahy asked.

The supplemental appropriations bill that included the Leahy Amendment went into conference the week of April 7, where committee members will reconcile different versions of the bill passed by the Senate and House. The House legislation to repeal the rider was introduced by Reps. Sam Farr (D-Calif.) and Ron Kind (D-Wis.).