**O****RGANIC****P****ERSPECTIVES**January 1999 

***Inside This Issue:***

| 1. | National        Organic Program (NOP) Update                            |
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| 2. | Organic Labeling Claim        Allowed on U.S. Meat and Poultry Products |
| 3. | Korean Economic Recovery =        Opportunity for U.S. Exporters        |
| 4. | Japan Issues Report on        Organic Inspection and Certification      |
| 5. | Growing Dutch Interest in        Organic Farming                        |
| 6. | Organic Support for British        Farmers Set to Increase              |
| 7. | Upcoming Events                                                         |

**1.****National OrganicProgram (NOP) Update******On October 28, 1998, USDA published three issue papersin the Federal Register to ask for additional public input onanimal confinement, animal medications, and procedures fortermination of producer certification. The public comment periodclosed December 14, 1998. AMS notes that over 10,000 commentswere received. Issue papers and comments can be viewed at the **NOP web site****.**

**2.****Organic Labeling ClaimAllowed on U.S. Meat and Poultry Products******On January 14, Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickmanannounced that, effective immediately, certain meat and poultryproducts will be allowed to carry the label "certifiedorganic." Processors must seek prior label approval fromUSDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, and be able to showthat the products have been certified by an entity that hasstandards defining the term "organically produced," anda system to ensure the products meet those standards. Fruits,vegetables, and other products are already permitted to belabeled "organic" if they meet the standards set byindependent certifiers. Secretary Glickman indicated that the newpolicy will give consumers more information and choice as well ashelp organic family farmers and ranchers to further expand theirmarkets.*Source:****USDApress release 0015.99***

**3.****Korean EconomicRecovery = Opportunity for U.S. Exporters******According to USDA's Agricultural Trade Office (ATO) inSeoul: *Now is the time for U.S. exporters to get in on theground floor of Korea's import recovery. A combination of ATOobservations and general economic conditions indicate Koreanimporters are stepping up their purchases of U.S. groceryproducts. Korea's 75% dependence on imported food, the nearexhaustion of imported food and beverage stocks, the steepappreciation of the won, and the fundamental change of players inthe food and beverage sector make this the perfect and necessarytime for exporters to refocus their attention on thisfourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural products. The GreatAmerican Food Show taking place in Seoul on March 16-18 providesan opportune venue for taking advantage of this situation.*For more details, see **AttacheReport KS9005**. 

**U.S. Exporters!** It's not too late to arrangeto have your product displayed at the U.S. pavilion at the GreatAmerican Food Show. For details, contact Teresina Leslie-Chin atFAS's Trade Show Office as soon as possible at (202) 720-9423 or **[email protected]**

**4.****Japan Issues Report onOrganic Inspection and Certification******In 1992, Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, andFisheries (MAFF) issued voluntary organic labeling guidelines.The guidelines have proved confusing to producers and consumersalike. Responding to a growing sentiment for third-partyinspection and certification of organic foods, a governmentcommittee was formed in July 1997, to review internationalstandards, collect comments, and begin work on an organicinspection and certification system for Japan. Last month, MAFFreleased a **report**detailing the outcome of the committee's efforts. MAFF intends tosubmit organic standards in May at the next Diet session with agoal toward implementation in the year 2001. Recommendationscovered in the report include: 

Basic approach - Immediately develop a nationwidesystem of inspection, certification, and labeling that iscompatible with international standards.

Scope of affected food items - Develop standardsinitially for organic farm products and processed foods withfurther study needed of organic livestock and marine products.

Promoting cultivation of farm products with reducedquantities of pesticides - Develop standards and frameworkfor inspection and certification of products of reduced-inputagriculture. 

Framework for inspection and certification -Acknowledge a role for both public and private entities inorganic inspection and certification. Study production andmanufacturing standards for organic products and processed foodsconsidering international standards. Develop detailed standards,verification procedures, and inspection requirements.

Proper labeling - Ensure that only commodities andproducts that have been properly inspected and certified can belabeled organic.

Imports - Develop a method to ensure that importedorganic products meet the equivalent of Japanese standards.

Other - Ensure that products from small businesses andfarmers in hilly and mountainous areas are not disadvantaged *vis-a-vis*large scale producers. 

**5.****Growing Dutch Interestin Organic Farming******Growth of organic farming in the Netherlands since themid-1990's has been unprecedented. In 1995, there were 55 organicfarms; by November 1998, there were 962. Although the growthoccurred mainly in the number of dairy farms, the increase alsoreflects growth in other sectors -- such as poultry, where thenumber of farms grew from 32 in 1996 to 59 in 1998. In 1998,another 60 companies joined the ranks of organic processors andservice companies, and retail outlets for organic food increased,including five new farmers markets and 48 new organic farm shops.The number of supermarkets carrying organic products is also onthe rise, although the market share accounts for only 1 to 2% oftotal turnover.*Source:****AttacheReport NL9003***. 

**6.****Organic Support forBritish Farmers Set to Increase******British Agriculture Minister Nick Brown announced inearly January that assistance for farmers converting to organicproduction will double this spring. This measure is part of apackage which includes increasing to �2 million ($1.2 million)annually, the amount spent on research and additional resourcesfor advising farmers on the practicalities of conversion. Theincrease is designed to persuade more conventional farmers to"go organic." Although more than 20,000 hectares(49,400 acres) were converted in 1998, it was far from enough tomeet the burgeoning demand for organic food in the United Kingdom(UK) reflected in sales that increased by 250% from 1992 to 1997.Approximately 60 to 70% of the organic food available in the UKnow is imported, mostly from other European Union countries. *Source:***UKMAFF press release**. 

**7.****Upcoming Events**

**TRADE SHOWS & CONFERENCES****International -1999**

- Feb. 7-11  -  International Food &        Drink Exhibition , London
- Feb. 18-21  -  BIO FACH ,        Nuremburg, Germany
- March  - BIOCULTURA, Sevilla, Spain
- Mar. 9-12  -  FOODEX , Tokyo *
- Mar. 12-15  - ANTAD '99, Guadalajara,        Mexico *
- June 9-11  - EXPHOTEL, Cancun, Mexico 
- Sept. 10-13  - SANA, Bologna, Italy
- Sept. 14-16  - Food Ingredients Europe,        Paris *
- Oct. 9-14  -  ANUGA        1999 , Cologne, Germany
- Oct. 16-18  - DIETEXPO '99, Paris *

**International - 2000**

- February  - International Food &        Drink Exhibition, Athens, Greece *
- Feb. 18-21  - BIOFACH, Germany *
- Mar. 7-10  - FOODEX, Tokyo *
- Oct. 18-22  - SIAL, Paris

**Domestic - 1999**

- Feb. 22 & 23  - USDA's  Agricultural        Outlook Forum 99 , Washington, DC
- Mar. 5 & 6 -  Upper Midwest Organic        Farming Conference , Sinsinawa, WI
- Mar. 9-14  -  Natural        Products Expo West , Anaheim, CA *
- Apr. 30-May 3 -  Specialty Coffee Association of        America, Annual Conference & Show , Philadelphia,        PA (section devoted to organic coffee)
- May 1-5  -  U.S.        Food Export Showcase , Chicago, IL
- May 19 & 20  - Summit on Organic Food        Technology (SOFT '99), Gilroy, CA
- Aug. 1-3  -  Organic        Farming Research Foundation Conference , Oakland, CA
- Sept. 22-26  - Natural Products Expo        East, Baltimore, MD
- Oct. 12 - 15 -  National Small Farm        Conference, St. Louis, MO 

**Domestic - 2000**

- **May 7-9** - U.S.        Food Export Showcase, Chicago, IL *

* *Indicates a USDA-sponsored show.For more information and a complete listing of food and tradeshows, including those for conventional products, visit the****FAS Trade Show site****.*

**FAS OVERSEAS PROMOTIONS - 1999**

- Feb. 12-23  - European Organic/Natural        Food Trade Mission - UK, Netherlands, & Germany
- April -  European Organic/Natural Food        Trade Mission, Germany
- Sept. 9  - U.S. Celebrates Mexico's        Independence, ATO, Mexico City  

This newsletter was compiled by HTP's OrganicsStaff:Janise Zygmont - Analysis, ***[email protected]*********Tel: (202) 720-1176 Fax:(202) 720-3799Kelly Strzelecki - Marketing, ***[email protected]*********Tel: (202) 690-1341 Fax:(202) 690-3346) 

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| *Last modified: Tuesday, February 02, 1999* |