Organic feed question

[Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay]

Here are the NOP regulations.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo

Private certification groups such as OMRI may have stricter standards for certification.

Jim

 

[CityChicker]

Quote:
Obviously, feed fed to animals used in production of food must be certified organic, but also any product labeled as organic must be made from certified organic materials. It doesn't matter if it is only pet food. What is being marketed is organic pet food, not an organic pet. In the case of those who choose to feed organic feed, but don't sell sell their animal products as organic, all that matters to them is that the feed is certified organic.

The organic industry isn't only limited to foodstuffs, as the term "organic" can apply to any agricultural product that is produced under organic standards. It is possible to buy a t-shirt that is made from organically produced cotton, or to buy cosmetic products that are produced from organic certified products.

Organic production is not necessarily about food purity, but about alternative, natural production systems that use sustainable methods to care for the environment, and care for the animals.

Well, of course. I understand all that. I know all of the arguments "pro" organic and actually know quite a lot about the requirements for becoming certified organic. That is not the question. My questions is purely this- Are there or are there not now requirements for animal feeds separate from those for human foods? If so, does anyone have a link to the actual government regulations for animal feeds not animal feeds specifically fed to food animals? If there is a labeling requirement for animal feeds (again, for animals not used in food production), then it is in writing somewhere for all to read. I am not questioning what organic is or why people would feed organic. I don't know how else to ask the question.

 

[CityChicker]

Lazy J Farms Feed & Hay :

Here are the NOP regulations.

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo

Private certification groups such as OMRI may have stricter standards for certification.

Jim

Wonderful! Thank you. I will read that in more detail when I have time and continue to research on my own as well, but I think I have the answer. In that document you linked, in a quick perusal, I found this...

"The term "livestock" means any cattle, sheep, goat, swine, poultry, equine animals used for food or in production of food..." There you have it. I don't think, in the past, that the government has been terribly concerned with monitoring organic labeling in animal foods, except for food animals. They are concerned about products for human consumption (which can indirectly include animal feeds). Of course, certifying organic is relatively new in terms of food labeling (even though it has been around for many years). Maybe there is still information out there that is more current and I would still love to see it if anyone has it, even if just for my own reference when I am looking at feeds.​

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Citychicker, I guess you are talking about general food processing standards. Organic animal feed is still processed the same as conventional feeds. Organic feed is still processed by same methods and mills that produce conventional feed. Organic dog food would be produced with the same sanitary methods and equipment used in conventional dog food. The difference is that the ingredients used are organic and any inputs such sanitizers, machinery lubricants, pest control products, etc must be organic or otherwise specifically allowed under the standards.

Take organic dog food as an example. A producer has a plant and wants to expand into organic dog food. He would develop an organic processing plan that includes the details of which certified ingredients he will use, how he will label his organic products, how he will keep the organic products separated from the conventional products, how he will clean the machinery between running conventional and organic, which organic lubricants and sanitizing agents he will use, how he will manage pest control, etc. He would submit the plan to an organic certification agency, have his operation inspected by the agency, and then be granted a processor/handling certificate that allows him to sell his product as USDA Certified Organic.

The organic integrity of the product is the only thing that the National Organic Plan is concerned about. All other requirements are still regulated (or not regulated) under the state/federal processing requirements for that specific industry as they have always been.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Quote:
As I mentioned earlier, the use of the term "organic" on any agricultural product, whether it be products used in human food, animal food, cosmetics, textile products, what have you, is now regulated.

§ 205.100 What has to be certified

(a) Except for operations exempt or excluded in §205.101, each production or handling operation or specified portion of a production or handling operation that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be certified according to the provisions of subpart E of this part and must meet all other applicable requirements of this part.

Here is an article from USA Today on organic pet foods, note that one product is actually USDA Certified Organic:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-07-13-organic_x.htm

 

[CityChicker]

Yes, of course, Mac. Perhaps the parallel I made was not a good one. I think I should just bow out of this thread at this point. It doesn't seem that anyone understands what I am even asking and/or I am not explaining myself properly. The reference to dog food was an analogy. It was not intended to be a literal example. I am trying to convey that the standards in general for the production of products for animals are different from those produced for human consumption.

Everything I have read indicates that there are no organic standards for animal feed in and of itself, other than the standards for feed fed to food animals. I have yet to see any information (or regulations) specific to animal feeds in general. If anyone finds anything and wishes to PM it to me, please do. I would love to have it for my reference if it exists.

 

[CityChicker]

Quote:
As I mentioned earlier, the use of the term "organic" on any agricultural product, whether it be products used in human food, animal food, cosmetics, textile products, what have you, is now regulated.

§ 205.100 What has to be certified

(a) Except for operations exempt or excluded in §205.101, each production or handling operation or specified portion of a production or handling operation that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))” must be certified according to the provisions of subpart E of this part and must meet all other applicable requirements of this part.

Here is an article from USA Today on organic pet foods, note that one product is actually USDA Certified Organic:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-07-13-organic_x.htm

Mac- I read that link earlier and everything I read on that site (granted, I haven't read the whole site) relates to agricultural products for CONSUMPTION. It does not relate to all organic products. Even the section on livestock feeds, relates to feeds fed to FOOD animals. Again, I am not sure what I am saying that is so confusing, but I will bow out at this point and just read all the literature myself word for word. I am not going to go around and around. Thank you!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
Dog and cat foods would be different. But since your feeding chickens that may or may not be destined for the table are a bit more regulated. I would hope so anyways.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

I'm following you, but the language pertains to "crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))"

It looks like you can't have a USDA certified organic t-shirt, but you can have a t-shirt made with certified organic cotton. It looks like you can't have a USDA certified organic shampoo, but you can have a shampoo made with certified organic ingredients. Technically, it looks like you can't have a USDA certified dog food, but if a dog food lists it's crop or livestock ingredients as organic, then it is regulated under the NOP. Although I have seen the dog food with the USDA seal.

Since the laws only pertain to these specific products I guess technically you could have a dog food without any organic products listed in the ingredients, but with a big "ORGANIC DOG FOOD" label on it, since the laws wouldn't apply otherwise.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Ok, I figured out what you are talking about. Early on in the program (late '90s early '00s) the USDA was certifying non-food products and allowing those products to carry the seal as long as they met the requirements for food products. Around 2004 there was some sort of uproar about the use of the USDA Organic seal on cosmetic products. The USDA issued a statement that they would no longer certify non-food products as they felt that they didn't have the authority to do so. Another uproar ensued. The USDA then issued a memo that they would continue to certify non-food products that met the organic requirements for agricultural products.

So, regardless of the wording of the CFR, the USDA's current stance is that as long as a non-food product meets the organic requirements for agricultural products those products can be certified and carry the appropriate seal.

http://www.organicconsumers.org/bodycare/victory082405.cfm