I’m not sure why I’m including this letter from the NOP and video regarding the USDA except the reason may become clear in terms of our health and well being which depends on a clean unadulterated food supply that has not been altered genetically or chemically.
Dear Ms. Aaring:
Thank you for your e-mail of May 25, 2009, to Secretary Vilsack. I have been asked to reply on his behalf.
In your e-mail you ask if the certification process protects organically grown food from direct application and indirect contamination through contact with surfaces treated with chemicals such as Sulfuryl Fluoride. You also ask how soon consumers can expect to see the end of Sulfuryl Fluoride as the industry standard for fumigation of physical premises which house, transport, store, distribute, and process certified organic produce.
The direct application to, and indirect contact with, organically grown food products is strictly prohibited for chemicals such as Sulfurl Fluoride.
Producers and handlers must submit an organic system plan to their certifying agent for review and approval. This plan must identify all substances that may be used by the producer or handler, their purpose, and method of use. The certifying agent assures that the producer or handler only uses substances approved for use in organic production and handling. Should the producer or handler list a prohibited substance, such as Sulfurl Fluoride, the certifying agent will notify the producer or handler of the prohibition and assure through amendment to the plan, on-site inspection, and possible testing of product that the substance is not used. For a list of approved substances please see sections 205.601 through 205.606 of the National Organic Program National List.
Again, thank you for your e-mail and interest in organic production and handling.
Best Regards,
Richard H. Mathews, Chief
Standards Development and Review Branch
National Organic Program
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Visack
Tom Vilsack was sworn in as the 30th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 21, 2009. Appointed by President Barack Obama, Vilsack received unanimous support for his confirmation by the U.S. Senate… more
Thought and action regarding clean unadulterated food supply restoration cannot be in contradition if it is to align with our universal goal of health actualization. To do otherwise is to base scientific premise on something other than the fact that human physiology is the fruit of the earth and therefore subject to its organic laws.
