August 16, 2007

 

USDA to conduct checks on Chinese organic soy farms

 

 

USDA officials are visiting China to assess organic food operations exporting to the US at the behest US organic farmers and processors to ensure they comply with standards. 

 

Recent problems with Chinese exports such as toothpaste, seafood and toys have prompted the US organic industry to call for stricter checks by the USDA on imported Chinese organic products.

 

Although China exports several USDA-certified organic products, organic soy imports garnered the most attention as the current shortage of organic soy in the US is forcing more American companies to turn to China.

 

The imported soy is used to make organic soy products as well as being used as organic feed.

 

The US organic soy industry have serious doubts that Chinese farmers would be able to comply with the strict standards required by the USDA.

 

Although some US farmers claim that Chinese farms use pesticides on their crop, a practice banned in organic farming, importers and certifiers say Chinese farms are subject to the same standards as US farms.

 

The USDA is planning to make surprise visits to organic farms and processing plants and would inspect the records of four agencies that grant USDA certificates in China.

 

A report would be due a few weeks after the trip.

 

Imported soy now accounts for about half of all soy purchased for organic food and livestock feed, most of it coming from China, according to estimates.

 

Peter Shortridge, president of Northland Organic Foods in Minnesota, assured consumers organic Chinese imports are safer than other Chinese agricultural products as all organic farms are monitored by third-party certifiers who hire inspectors to ensure growers and processors are following USDA rules.

 

Most Chinese farms are certified by the Organic Crop Improvement Association in Lincoln, Neb., which has more than 200 clients in China.

 

Although China's industrial pollution meant that some fields are subjected to environmental contamination, they can still be certified as long as growers abide by USDA organic rules.

 

Meanwhile, Iowa organic soy farmers still feel that their Chinese competitors are not held to the same standards and worry that such imports could sink the entire industry.

 

Even though customers have not requested for a differentiation between Chinese organic soy and US ones, some companies have been leery of using imported organic soy, soy dealers said.