[USCC] Fw: E. Coli Link Is Found in Cattle Feces

[Jim McNelly]

Listmembers,

When the National Organics Program (NOP) was being promulgated in the 
mid to late 1990s, I expressed objections to USDA regarding the lack 
of provisions for effective pathogen reduction for organic nutrient 
sources, particularly livestock manure.  In the biosolids industry, 
organic residuals must meet either Class B standards and subsequent 
application and loading regimens or Class A standards for 
unrestricted use.  I stated that the NOP program, if it were to be 
affiliated with the US Government, should require that organics be 
processed according to USCC Best Management Practices along the lines 
of the Seal of Testing Assurance Program that later came into existence.

No such standards were adopted, and the current recommendations, 
based on information from the National Resource Conservation Service, 
NRCS, amounted, in my opinion to little more than anecdotal advice 
from a well meaning, but misinformed neighbor.  There are over 600 
provisions in NOP of what not to use, which are based largely on 
whether or not the product is man made or not, not on whether public 
health is being protected.  One might think that at least one 
provision, pathogen reduction, that does protect public health should 
be included.

I have heard that Congress and the Congressional Agriculture 
Committee were not pleased with having to adopt recent, pre-spinach 
outbreak, amendments to the NOP program.  Not only were there few if 
any proponents of the compromised amendments, some members of 
Congress asked why the US Government was even in the organic food 
certification business.

Now that bionutrients and food safety issues are in the headlines, 
maybe something is going to develop in these areas that affect the 
composting industry.




Jim~ McNelly
Renewable Carbon Management LLC 320-253-5076
NaturTech, NaturSoil, CompostMan
jim at composter.com
www.composter.com