Agriculture

The Organic Trade Association has recently released its third draft of the American Organic Standards. The group works to promote markets and protect standards for organic produce in Canada, the United States and Mexico.

The Organic Crop Improvement Association is the world's largest certifying body for organic agriculture. Its website includes instructions for standards submissions and applications for membership.

The National Agriculture Compliance Assistance Center's Ag Center website features information about environmental requirements that affect the agricultural community. Created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) with the support of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), this website offers comprehensive, easy-to-understand information about compliance -- commonsense, flexible approaches that are both environmentally protective and agriculturally sound.

Federal legal definitions of sustainable agriculture are found in the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 and Chapter 94 -- Organic Certification in the U.S.Code.

The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service maintains a website on proposed changes in the National Organic Program.

Last updated: March 21, 2002

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