Leahy introduced OFPA in 1989 and included it in the 1990 Leahy-Lugar Farm Bill. For the past several years, Leahy has pushed for the release of comprehensive regulations to implement the law, including, most recently, an October 8 letter to Office of Management and Budget Director Franklin Raines when budget officials apparently considered issuing regulations that were not comprehensive and contradicted the intend of Leahy's legislation. Leahy supports the USDA's proposed regulations to implement his 1990 legislation. This proposal will be the basis for final standards that will protect consumers and ignite further growth of this young industry. I am confident that in short order, U.S. standards will become the global model.
Consumers are sometimes confused with a variety of organic seals, labels and logos.
This proposal will prevent that confusion. National standards will mean that farmers will know the rules. I recognize that the rule will be criticized by some for not including an absolute prohibition on the use of irradiation, genetically modified organisms and organic waste. All those concerned need to recognize that this is a proposal - not a final rule. In September, Leahy was awarded the first ever Organic Leadership Award by the Organic Trade Association, a group representing the organic products industry in the United States and Canada.