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11-6 the day in pictures
November 6. 2009 (6 photos)
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WEEK IN REVIEW
Saturday
More snow expected at mountain passes
Suspect identified in Seattle police killing
Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Ti...
Friday


Officer Timothy Brenton. Gone, but not forgotten
Person sought in officer's killing is shot in head
Thousands to pay respects to slain Seattle poli...
Thursday


Tale of 1916 Everett Massacre retold in style o...
Reservist survived Iraq but not his return to c...
Swine flu suspected in infant’s death
Wednesday


‘Everything but marriage' law close to vi...
Library levy winning by 51% to 49%
Incumbents looking strong in Snohomish County C...
Tuesday


Delayed financial aid forcing college students ...
Slaying of officer reminds police of dangers of...
Edmonds turns over firefighting duties to Fire ...
Monday


Question isn't 'if' but 'how bad' for floods
Slain Seattle Police officer lived in Marysville
Rubatino Refuse allows recycling of food scraps...
Sunday


Signs were clear Boeing isn't tied to location
Swine flu shots draw crowds in Snohomish County
The Boeing buzz in South Carolina
 

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Published: Friday, July 10, 2009

House seeks probe of organic food standards

WASHINGTON -- A House agriculture appropriations bill that passed today includes $500,000 for the inspector general to investigate the U.S. Agriculture Department's National Organic Program to determine whether federal standards are being properly observed before farmers and food producers are allowed to use the USDA-certified label on food products.

Passage of the bill represents the first step in establishing the USDA's fiscal 2010 budget. The Senate version of the bill does not include the additional funding, but Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., author of the federal law that established the organics program, believes the inspector general needs additional resources for the effort and might propose an amendment to add a similar amount of funding when the appropriations bill comes to the Senate floor.

Rep. Rush Holt, D-N.J., proposed the additional funding to the Agriculture Appropriations Act in response to a Washington Post article that revealed how the program's lax and uneven enforcement of organics standards has harmed the integrity of the seven-year-old program.

The Office of the Inspector General has been working for months on a review of the program.

The additional funding, Holt said, would allow for a "thorough investigation" to determine "whether or not current inspectors are ensuring that the most rigorous standards for certification are honored when determining if a product may bear the USDA Organic label. "

The extra funding would also expand the probe to determine whether non-organic substances are inappropriately being allowed in small amounts into certified organic foods. The number of non-organic substances that the USDA allows into certified organic products has increased from 77 to 245 since the program started in 2002.

Officials in Holt's office said they hope to use the results of the investigation to determine what, if any, reforms are needed and whether new legislation is needed to improve the program.

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1. Shot ends search for man sought in killing of Seattle police officer
2. Thousands honor slain Seattle police officer Timothy Brenton
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