ACCC Supports the Australian Standard for Organic and
Biodynamic Products
The Organic Federation of Australia is very appreciative of the
financial support from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
(ACCC) for ongoing development and promotion of the Australian Standard
for Organic and Biodynamic Products.
The ACCC has contributed $216,000 to the OFA to promote the new
Australian Standard to consumers, retailers and the organic sector as well
as its continued development to protect the integrity of products labelled
as organic. This level of support shows that the ACCC is very serious that
products labelled as organic have to comply to the new Australian
Standard
The fact that this money was part of a settlement for misleading
labelling will send a message that certifying products to the new
Australian Standard will be the most cost effective way to ensure the
integrity of organic products. It shows that the ACCC is prepared to put
resources into prosecuting fraud and protecting Australian consumers
As the peak industry body for the Australian organic and biodynamic
sector, the Organic Federation of Australia (OFA) has spent over two years
working in partnership with the government and the Australian organic and
biodynamic sector on this project.
An Australian organic standard will provide the organic industry with a
uniform national benchmark for the production and the marketing of organic
produce on the domestic market. Once developed, this standard can be used
by government agencies such as the ACCC to ensure compliance against
misleading and deceptive practices for organic products sold on the
domestic market including imported products. For the first time there will
be uniform requirements for the export and domestic markets in
Australia.
Best Regards
Andre Leu
Chair
Nationally Accredited Organic Qualifications
TAFE colleges and
other Tertiary institution can now offer a Diploma of Agriculture and/or a
Certificate IV in Agriculture that specialises in organic agriculture.
These nationally accredited course competencies have been developed by the
OFA Education Committee of Cheryl Kemp, Liz Clay and Andre Leu with
extensive work by Michael Williams from Orange TAFE in NSW.
The details about the RTE03 Rural Production Training Package on,
RTE40103 Certificate IV in Agriculture Specialising in Organic Production
and RTE50103 Diploma of Agriculture Specialising in Organic Production can
be found at:
http://www.agrifoodskills.net.au/review/Sectorqualsspecialisations/Organic%20production.pdf
The next step will entail writing the course materials.
Farmers to be Paid for Soil Carbon
Dr Christine Jones from
Carbon for Life has negotiated Australia’s first carbon credit scheme,
where farmers will get paid for increasing the carbon levels in their
soils. This trial scheme will financially reward a group of Western
Australian farmers who sequester greenhouse gases from the atmosphere into
their soil. The scheme was a result of the series of Carbon Forums held
around Australia. The OFA was actively involved in these important events
that will help in reducing one of the causes of climate change.
FAO Promotes the Benefits of Organic Agriculture
The UN Food
and Agriculture Organization (FAO) held its International Conference on Organic Agriculture and Food
Security in Rome. FAO noted that
"organic agriculture has the potential to secure a global food supply,
just as conventional agriculture is today, but with reduced environmental
impact." The Conference report Stated "The strongest feature of organic
agriculture is its reliance on fossil-fuel independent and
locally-available production assets; working with natural processes
increases cost-effectiveness and resilience of agro-ecosystems to climatic
stress. Organic agriculture also breaks the vicious circle of indebtedness
for agricultural inputs which causes an alarming rate of farmers'
suicides."
One Label for Organic Produce in EU
The European Union
Parliament has mandated a labelling system for organic produce. Produce
containing at least 95 percent organic ingredients will have to use a
special EU logo, along with a label to indicate the product's origin.
Below that, there will be labelling of the organic ingredients present.
Organic and Fair Trade Increases
A new study in the United
Kingdom shows that over 37% of those surveyed are willing to pay more for
organic and Fair Trade products, up significantly from 24% in 2002. The
Daily Mail reports,
"Changes are being driven by concern about global warming and exploitation
of the developing world." U.K. organic food sales are forecast to exceed
£1.7 billion (almost US $3.4 billion) this year compared to £849 million
in 2004.Organic Systems can Achieve High Yields
The long
term Rodale Institute comparison trial between conventional and organic
systems has found the organic system delivers higher yields when the soil
is improved. Decades of soil improvements produce better soil quality and
allow organic corn production to move beyond yield parity with
conventional systems. Very importantly the organic corn had better
resilience in drought and wet years.
New Organic Herbicide
A new organic herbicide has been
registered in the USA. The product uses the citrus oil extract,
d-limonene. It kills weeds by stripping the protective wax coating from
their leaves. The manufacturers say it gives better results and is more
cost effective than vinegar, soap and oil-based products.
Nitrites in Cured Meats Linked to Lung Disease
Researchers have
found that people who frequently eat cured meats such as ham, hot dogs and
bacon face a higher risk of lung disease. The researchers linked nitrites
added as common food preservatives as a possible cause.
People who ate cured meat products at least 14 times a month were 78
per cent more likely to develop chronic obstructive pulmonary disease than
people who did not eat these meats, even after the researchers sought to
account for many other risk factors including smoking, overall diet and
age.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease refers to emphysema and chronic
bronchitis, which interfere with normal breathing. Earlier research has
linked nitrites to cancer of the pancreas.
Nitrites are highly toxic and are added to food as a poison that kills
micro organisms. Nitrites are prohibited in the Australian Standard for
Organic and Biodynamic Produce. Source: The Age May 05 2007
German Consumers Want Zero Pesticides in Food.
71 % of German
consumers want fruit and vegetables to be completely free of pesticide
residues. Only 2 % of the consumers interviewed in a representative survey
do not regard pesticide residues in fruit and vegetables as a problem.
The survey was conducted on behalf of Greenpeace in February and April
2007. Greenpeace is calling for the German Federal and State governments
to introduce better controls to prevent all kinds of fruit and vegetables
exceeding the pesticide limits in the short term and reduce the use of
pesticides in Germany by 50 % within the next five years. Source:
www.greenpeace.de
Pesticides Linked to Brain Tumors
French researchers have found
that exposed vineyard workers and people who used pesticides on
houseplants on a regular basis are three times more likely to suffer from
brain tumors than less-exposed individuals. "Brain tumours and exposure to
pesticides: a case-control study in southwestern France" assessed exposure
of more than 200 patients and 400 matched controls. The research paper was
published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental
Medicine.
Pesticide Contaminate Californians
Residents of Lindsay, Tulare
County, released a study May 16 that shows their bodies are being
contaminated by an agricultural pesticide that has already been banned for
residential use. The community members tested their air during the summers
of 2004-2006 with PAN's Drift Catcher
monitoring device, and detected high levels of the organophosphate
chlorpyrifos in the
air around their homes. That discovery was followed by complementary
biomonitoring research to test for evidence of chlorpyrifos in their
bodies. The results show all but one of those tested had higher levels of
a chlorpyrifos breakdown chemical in their urine than the level US EPA
considers safe for pregnant women and children. Chlorpyrifos is a
neurotoxin linked to problems in brain development and is suspected of
triggering asthma in people who have never suffered from respiratory
problems before. Source: http://www.panna.org
Another Study Links Pesticides to Parkinson's Disease
University of Aberdeen researchers report that exposure to high
levels of pesticides appears linked to a 39% increase in Parkinson's
disease, a degenerative and incurable brain disorder that now afflicts
1-in-500 British citizens. The study of 959 Parkinson's sufferers,
published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, reported that pesticide exposure appears to pose a
greater risk than family history
Paraquat Linked to Parkinson's Disease
More studies have been
published that show a causal link between the herbicide Paraquat and
Parkinson’s Disease. 
One study shows that farm workers who used paraquat had two to three times
the normal risk of Parkinson's, a degenerative brain disease that
eventually paralyzes patients.
A second study shows that animals exposed to paraquat have a build-up
of a protein called alpha-synuclein in their brains. This protein has been
linked to Parkinson's in the past.
A third piece of the puzzle shows that this buildup of protein kills
the same brain cells affected in Parkinson's.
"All of these pieces really look like they are coming together now,"
Dr. William Langston, founder of the non-profit Parkinson's Institute,
told Reuters. Drugs can delay symptoms for a while but there is no
effective long term management treatment and no cure. Source:
Reuters
Lawn Chemicals, Breast Cancers Linked
A study in the American Journal of Epidemiology compared 1,508 women with newly diagnosed breast cancer
and 1,556 women without breast cancer. The Long Island, New York women,
were questioned about their activities during 1996-1997, and found that
"the use of lawn and garden pesticides was associated with an approximate
40% increased risk in developing breast cancer." The dose was not a
determinant since any exposure to the pesticides seemed to increase the
risk of developing cancer. The researchers have called for "use of
non-chemical alternatives for pest control." Source: http://www.panna.org
Long-Term Study Documents Pesticides to Illness
Prostate
cancer, lung cancer, diabetes, multiple myleoma, leukemia and other health
effects occur more in people who are exposed to pesticides routinely than
the general population, according to the Agricultural Health Study, a collaborative effort between the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
(NIEHS), and U.S. EPA. The AHS is tracking 90,000 participants over 14
years so far, with the study expected to continue for another ten years.
Pesticide Breakdown Residues Killing Frogs
One of the biggest
mythologies perpetuated about the current generation of pesticides is that
they break down quickly in the environment and in our food, leaving no
harmful residues. In reality the breakdown products of many pesticides can
be significantly more toxic than the pesticide.
Researchers at Southern Illinois University (SIU), Carbondale and the
U.S. Geological Survey's Western Ecological Research Center suggest that the breakdown products of three common
organophosphate pesticides (OPs), chlorpyrifos,
malathion and
diazinon "are 10-100
times more toxic to amphibians than their parent compounds." The
pesticides have been implicated in the declines of the California
red-legged frog, Cascades frog, and yellow-legged frog. "… the higher
toxicity of the breakdown products poses a serious problem," said study
co-author Dr. Gary Fellers. Dr. Donald Sparling, a contaminants specialist
at SIU, noted that "even in pristine areas of the Sierra Nevada
Mountains," OPs are serious hazards to the survival of these native
amphibians. The study was published in the journal Environmental
Pollution.
EU Mandates 0.9% GMOs in Organic Foods
The European Union
Parliament has mandated a new law allowing up to 0.9 percent content of
GMOs accidental or unavoidable contamination in organic products. This is
despite the intense opposition by the European organic sector to this law.
Australian Study on GM Canola could end Organic Canola
A study
by the Australian Bureau of Resource Economic (ABARE) has stated that the
commercialisation of GM canola in Australia is likely to have only
negligible direct impacts on the organic canola, livestock and honey
industries.
The OFA is extremely concerned as the report underplays the effect of
pollen drift over several kilometers contaminating non GM crops. The
contamination of organic canola will result in the loss of its organic
status and the loss of many of the markets that have zero tolerance to
products that are contaminated with GMO genes.
GM Lucerne Stopped by US Courts
The temporary ban imposed in
March by a US federal judge on Monsanto's plans to plant genetically
engineered alfalfa (Lucerne) was made permanent May 3rd. The Center for Food Safety (CFS) had filed suit on behalf of organic farmers concerned that
Monsanto's GM alfalfa designed to allow heavier use of its herbicide
Roundup could contaminate their crops. The decision places the U.S.
Department of Agriculture in charge of monitoring and disclosing to the
public where Monsanto has planted the GM alfalfa so organic and
conventional alfalfa growers may test their own crops for contaminated
with GM seed. "This permanent halt to the planting of this risky crop is a
great victory for the environment," said Will Rostov, an attorney with
CFS. "Roundup Ready alfalfa poses threats to farmers, to our export
markets, and to the environment. We expect the USDA to abide by the law
and insure that American farmers are protected from genetic
contamination." Source: Organic Consumers Association
Natural Products Expo in Hong Kong from June 27-29
The OFA in
conjunction with NASAA, is exhibiting certified organic Australian
products at the Natural Products Expo in Hong Kong from June 27-29.
www.ofa.org.au
chair@ofa.org.au
Nominations for the 2007 Victorian Landcare Awards Close July 1
The search is on for inspiring individuals, community groups, schools,
youth groups and networks that deserve to be recognised for their work in
tackling environmental issues from the ground up. You can nominate
yourself, your organisation or group, or someone else - and you don't have
to be a Landcare member to apply. All award winners will receive a cash
prize.
For all the award categories, tips and
rules, go to the Department of Sustainability website under Landcare
Awards
Contact information: Justin Popp, Phone: 03 9637 9824
Email: Justin.Popp@dse.vic.gov.au
Natural Therapies & Natural Health Expo
16-17 August, Wharf
8, Hickson Road, Sydney
1-2 November, The Camberwell Centre, Melbourne
call 1300 789 845 or visit www.naturaltherapyexpo.com.au
email: melanie@intermedia.com.au
tel: 02 9660
2113
2007 Qld Landcare & Catchment Management Conference &
Awards
22-25 August,Mackay Entertainment Centre
Contact:Margaret Lane, Conference Convener, Pioneer Catchment &
Landcare Group
ph 4951 4327 fax 4957 2216 mob 0407 639 623
mlane@orion-online.com.au www.pioneercatchment.org.au
1st IFOAM International Conference on Marketing of Organic and
Regional Values
August 26-28, 2007 in Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
For more
information:www.ifoam.org/events/ifoam_conferences/regional_values_2007.html
Organic Expo featuring the Natural and Ethical Show
7 to 9
September 2007 Royal Exhibition Building, Carlton Gardens VIC
The
Organic Expo, now in its 3rd successful year, is Australia’s
foremost organic and environmental show covering all lifestyle areas.
Regarded as the Oceania regions organic meeting point, the show is
supported with the presence of the International Federation of Organic
Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), Australian Federation of Australia (OFA)
and other industry bodies. Over 200+ exhibitors will take part providing
attendees with the opportunity to discover new products, sample delicious
food and wine and talk directly to growers, producers and retailers about
the benefits of certified organic and natural & ethical products and
services. For more information: www.organicexpo.com.au
Ph: 02 9319
1228 Fx: 02 9453 3499 Mob: 0414 306 689
Em: mary@shevents.com.au
Slow Food Melbourne Farmers Market
St Heliers Street,
Collingwood on the 4th Saturday of each month.
Veg Out Farmers’ Market
1st Saturday of every month
8.30am-1pm
Chaucer Street, St Kilda (just behind Acland Street and
Luna Park)
Collingwood Children’s Farm Farmers’ Market
2nd Saturday
every month 8.00am–1pm
St Heliers Street, Abbotsford
Gasworks Farmers’ Market
3rd Sat every month 8.30am–1pm
Graham Street, Albert Park. (cnr Pickles St)
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