The Organic Livestock Standard and Certification System in the U.S.

KIM Sung Gak, HAYAKAWA Osamu

doi:10.18921/amsj.12.1_9

Organic farming has been one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. agriculture since the 1990's. In December, 2000, after a ten-year argument, the National Organic Program Final Rule was published by USDA. Under this rule, all the state and private certification programs for organic agriculture & livestock are to become incorporated into the unified national certification system. Thus, all agricultural products labeled organic must originate from farms and operations certified by a state or private agencies accredited by the USDA. The rule also prohibits the use of ionizing radiation, sewage sludge, and excluded methods throughout the process of organic production and handling. With the global organic livestock market growing rapidly, Codex Alimentarius Commission also established Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labeling and Marketing of Organically Produced Livestock Products in July 2001. Japan, lacking any national standard for organic livestock, has just began to develop a national certification system. However, the toughest obstacle to this task concerns setting the standards on the conditions of raising animals, such as free-range access and organic livestock feedstuffs requirements. This paper examines the present conditions of the organic livestock production in U.S. and reviews the contents of the National Organic Program Final Rule, focusing mainly on livestock. In conclusion, the future direction for the Japanese national standard for organic livestock is also considered.

The Organic Livestock Standard and Certification System in the U.S.

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