USDA Creates Organic Pet Food Task Force
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is assembling a task force
of nutrition specialists, suppliers and other experts to develop
proposed organic labeling standards for pet food, according
to the American Pet Product Manufacturers Association (Greenwich,
Conn.).
The USDA also is forming another task force to develop proposed
organic production, handling and labeling standards for food
and animal feed products derived from aquatic animals.
Regulations under the National Organic Program were published
in December 2000 but did not include standards for pet food.
According to the Jan. 24 Federal Register notice, “We
envision the formation of this pet food task force as the
first step in the deliberative process that may lead to the
development of labeling standards for pet food that is to
be sold, labeled or represented as organic.”
The 12-member task force will recommend standards for product
labeling categories and ingredients, and prepare a list of
substances used in the manufacture of pet food. The task force
is expected to make its recommendation to the National Organic
Standards Board Meeting in October or November 2005. [April
2005 PET AGE]
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