Organically certified-another point

[Guest guest]

I would just like to point out that I am all for genuine organic

growers and that method of production. What I am agaist is the scams

endemic in the AT industry over these oils and the way therapists are

ripped off over them. At one stage I just thought it was essential

oils, but as the research builds up it is looking more that not all

OG certified foods can be trusted. Like Butch said, " who is

inspecting the inspectors " !

 

As someone who used to grow most of my own fruit/veg/herbs, I know

you cannot produce natural broccoli without it having a few bugs

taking chunks and laying their eggs. Yet go into the average

supermarket and the " certified OG " brocolli is without any marks on

it - strange, I wonder why.

 

Thanks Christine for that info. on the US scene, but I still wonder

about the inspection regimes and how sound they are.

 

Martin Watt

http://www.aromamedical.com

-------

 

-- In , " Christine Ziegler "

<chrisziggy@e...> wrote:

> Thanks for the info Martin

 

 

> Here is some info on the organic certification standards here in

the US

> ... and from some of the organic farmers I know, it is a rather

strict

> enforcement. It has changed a bit since it went national .. but

isn't

> that the way of most things ..

>

> http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/indexIE.htm

>

> And yes, as in other parts of the world, it is the crop that is

> certified organic, so if the end product is using those certified

> organic crops, then it too can be called certified organic (has to

have

> a certain % of its ingredients from a certified organic crop used

in its

> production). There are all sorts of new regulations going into

effect in

> the toiletries industry regarding certified organic products such as

> shampoos, soap, etc. We'll have to see how that plays out in the

future.

> There is a whole article about it in the latest edition of NFM

> http://www.nfm-online.com/ASP/home.asp but it isn't listed on their

web

> site yet. Check back in the next few days to read it.

>

> Even if one is not eating the product, a big push right now for

using

> certified organic plant materials in body care products, EO's and

the

> like isn't so much worry about absorbing pesticides through the

hair and

> skin, but more to promote the growing practice of not using chemical

> pesticides and adding synthetic fertilizers to the soil. The

fertilizers

> is a wee bit less of an issue in general than the unnecessary over-

use

> of pesticides, but I've talked to growers who insist that they have

more

> worms and healthier soil after they've stopped using chemical

> fertilizers and began using organic and biodynamic soil enhancers.

The

> whole method of growing " organically " and " biodynamically " promotes

a

> much healthier ecosystem and therefore produces healthier, higher

> quality plants and healthier surroundings for us all.

>

> *Smile*

> Chris (list mom)

>

> Foamer Bottles and Large Window Tins

> On Sale - But Not For Much Longer

> http://www.alittleolfactory.com

>

>

> aromamedical2003 [aromamedical-2@l...]

>

> <very snipped>

> > In the USA I do not know if the OG certification organizations

are

> > similar to our own ...

[Guest guest]

Hi Martin

 

And I'm very pleased to see that you take part on this list! And thanks to

others who contributed to the organic thread because I've found it very

interesting.

 

> Thanks Christine for that info. on the US scene, but I still wonder

> about the inspection regimes and how sound they are.

 

Your comments about organic certification are especially interesting. Here

in Australia, I've always thought we lagged way behind in terms of

certifying bodies and because of many separate factions. Some certifying

bodies have merged over the years but not without a great deal of angst and

political upheaval within the organisations that are proposing to merge.

And some certifying bodies are much tougher on the growers who want to

achieve certification than others.

 

I did some checking about the state of affairs in Australia, because naively

I thought the annual inspections included soil testing each time, and I had

believed that at least things were being kept in check that way.

 

Not so. The soil tests are done initially, and then again three years later

when organic certification has been obtained.

 

Even more ridiculous is the blanket rule that a grower must have " in

conversion " status for three years after the initial testing procedure.

 

So if you buy land and want to start growing and marketing organic herbs,

crops or whatever, you might have bought land that hasn't had chemicals

applied to it at all in the previous ten years. Or you might buy land

that's had heavy chemical use during that time. The same rule applies. I

was shocked to discover this because I'd somehow thought the in conversion

status was somehow dependent on the results of chemical residues from the

soil tests.

 

I'm not sure if these are the same guidelines for Europe.

 

For me, the sustainability issue is far more crucial than whether a product

is " certified " organic or not, especially when I've come to believe that

rules and regulations in the main about protecting sizeable corporations

(who also make political donations), rather than the consumers they're

purported to protect.

 

A friend involved in the permaculture movement here told me some time ago

about the terrible effects the demand for organic food is having on some of

the producing nations. Because of the demand for organic coffee, for

example, some areas in New Guinea are turning their traditional farming land

over to producing organic coffee for the almighty dollar. And losing much

of their food source as a result.

 

I'd better stop now.......

 

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Vicky, You have done sone excellent research on the Aus organic

growing scams and it would be great if you could talk to Chrissie

Wildwood about what you know. Here in the UK we are desperately

trying to expose similar scams being supported by our own organic

growers certification bodies. You can get to Chrissie either via me

and I will pass on your email to her:

info

or via her own website www.chrissie-wildwood.com

 

Martin Watt

 

, " Vicki Younger " <vicki@r...>

wrote:

> Hi Martin

>

> And I'm very pleased to see that you take part on this list! And

thanks to

> others who contributed to the organic thread because I've found it

very

> interesting.

>

> > Thanks Christine for that info. on the US scene, but I still

wonder

> > about the inspection regimes and how sound they are.

>

> Your comments about organic certification are especially

interesting. Here

> in Australia, I've always thought we lagged way behind in terms of

> certifying bodies and because of many separate factions. Some

certifying

> bodies have merged over the years but not without a great deal of

angst and

> political upheaval within the organisations that are proposing to

merge.

> And some certifying bodies are much tougher on the growers who want

to

> achieve certification than others.

>

> I did some checking about the state of affairs in Australia,

because naively

> I thought the annual inspections included soil testing each time,

and I had

> believed that at least things were being kept in check that way.

>

> Not so. The soil tests are done initially, and then again three

years later

> when organic certification has been obtained.

>

> Even more ridiculous is the blanket rule that a grower must have " in

> conversion " status for three years after the initial testing

procedure.

>

> So if you buy land and want to start growing and marketing organic

herbs,

> crops or whatever, you might have bought land that hasn't had

chemicals

> applied to it at all in the previous ten years. Or you might buy

land

> that's had heavy chemical use during that time. The same rule

applies. I

> was shocked to discover this because I'd somehow thought the in

conversion

> status was somehow dependent on the results of chemical residues

from the

> soil tests.

>

> I'm not sure if these are the same guidelines for Europe.

>

> For me, the sustainability issue is far more crucial than whether a

product

> is " certified " organic or not, especially when I've come to believe

that

> rules and regulations in the main about protecting sizeable

corporations

> (who also make political donations), rather than the consumers

they're

> purported to protect.

>

> A friend involved in the permaculture movement here told me some

time ago

> about the terrible effects the demand for organic food is having on

some of

> the producing nations. Because of the demand for organic coffee,

for

> example, some areas in New Guinea are turning their traditional

farming land

> over to producing organic coffee for the almighty dollar. And

losing much

> of their food source as a result.

>

> I'd better stop now.......

>

> Vicki