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Bill to close 'organic' chicken loophole advances (Monday, April 7, 2003 -- CropChoice news) -- Jeff Nesmith, Cox News: WASHINGTON. An amendment to reverse a law that would allow a Georgia
chicken processor to sell its brand of poultry as organic, even if birds
are fed inorganic feed, is on its way to a House-Senate conference
committee.
The amendment, introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and 52
co-sponsors, would repeal a measure designed to benefit Fieldale Farms,
a north Georgia poultry processor. The measure was attached as a
"rider" to an appropriations bill by House Speaker Dennis Hastert,
R-Ill., early this year as a favor to its prime author, Rep. Nathan
Deal, R-Ga., and was signed into law.
"The swift and strong ground swell of opposition to that rider has been
an eye-opener for many in Washington," Leahy said after the Senate voted
late Thursday to attach his amendment to an emergency bill providing
money for the war in Iraq and the Department of Homeland Security.
Leahy said consumers "want the organic label to mean what it says."
The Senate funding bill passed late Thursday with Leahy's amendment
attached. The Senate bill and a House version, which does not contain
the repeal language, now go to a conference committee so that
differences can be reconciled.
Leahy also is the prime author of a separate bill containing identical
language as the amendment. It has 68 co-sponsors.
A repeal measure introduced in the House has "over 100 co-sponsors,"
according to a spokesperson for its prime author, Rep. Sam Farr,
D-Calif.
Although Deal's rider does not refer specifically to Fieldale, he
acknowledged that it was designed to allow Fieldale to display the U.S.
Department of Agriculture "organic" seal on its Springer Mountain Farms
chickens. The company claims it cannot get organic corn for the birds.
The measure would become effective only if a Department of Agriculture
study now under way shows that the cost of organic feed grain is at
least twice that of non-organic grain.
Jeff Nesmith's e-mail address is jeffn(at)coxnews.com | |
