U.S. government to issue first standards on organic foods

(CNN) -- The U.S. government was expected to hand down national standards on organic foods Wednesday. The new rules have been in the formulation stages for 10 years.

The Organic Foods Production Act was passed as part of the 1990 Farm Bill, but an initial proposal was substantially reworked after extraordinary public comment was received.

Standards were expected to be released at a news conference Wednesday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman. The rules govern all aspects of organic food production, from seed selection to the nurturing of plants, harvest and preparation.

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Prior to the widespread use of synthetic chemical pesticides prior to World War II, nearly all U.S. food production was organic. Still, it was not pesticide-free.

New rules mandate not only the substances that must be avoided in organic farming, but also set down expectations for soil conservation and enrichment, government authorities said.

In addition, the government is specifying rules for labeling and marketing organic products.

Once the rules are published, farmers will have a maximum of 18 months to become certified as organic growers through local certifying agents in order to market their products as organic.

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USDA National Organic Program
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Trade Association
American Community Garden Association
Oldways Preservation & Exchange Trust

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