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Re: organic standards



In Article <3.0.32.19961121090536.006bbd40@rain.org>, sals@rain.org (Sal
Schettino) wrote:
>Why has the USDA taken so long to make the organic standards (over 5
>years)? Could it be because of .special interests groups , their
>lobbyists Big players looking for loopholes , and PAC hungry politician
>and their political agenda. .Is this what organic farming is coming too?=20

What do you expect, bureaucracy proceeds at a snail's pace. A big part of
the problem has been a lack of funding for the program.

><bigger><bigger>WE Californians who grow and/or sell organic have already
>lost some of our Constitutional rights !
>
>
>First off we have lost our right to farm organic and sell
>our product freely (Now we are forced to payoff too many people too much
>money all for the same darn thing ).

You still have that "right", and as long as you don't label your product
organic you don't even need to be certified. And where is that "right" given
in the US Constitution?

>We lost our right to freedom of
>speech (you can not tell your consumer even face to face at a farmers
>market that you are organic or natural or anything close to that unless
>you pay the State of Ca.( even if it is true) We lost the right of
>unreasonable search (they call them spot checks) of your
>farm,store,factory or restaurant or any place of business that sells
>organic stuff, at any time and the only reason they have to give you is
>that you sell organic ,the right to life,liberty and the pursuit of
>happiness just to name of few .

You seem to misunderstand the nature of commerce. When one CHOOSES to enter
the stream of commerce, there are certain rules which must be adhered to,
and sometimes that places restrictions on certain freedoms. Freedom of
speech doesn't mean freedom to lie. These regulations and standards were
implemented to prevent fraud on the consumer (and other
growers/distributors). Your freedom of speech has not been deprived under
the Constitution. The US Supreme Court would probably not review your case,
should you claim your first amendment rights have been deprived, because you
have the option not to label your products as organic.

>Can they really do
>this in the U.S.A. What happen to voluntary certification, 

To repeat for the umpteenth time, organic certification in the USA is voluntary.

>Why can't the organic folks regulate themselves like they have been.

Because they (as a group) decided to make laws instead.
Tracy



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