USDA Considers Expanding List of Allowable Substances in Organic Meat
07/24/2006

Increased demand and limited supply of organic beef has led many to
consider alternatives that would lead to increased production. The USDA
Agricultural Marketing Service is considering expanding the list of
allowable substances that can be used in treating livestock, while
still remaining eligible for organic certification.

The substances being debated include:
- Atropine, a belladonna-derived antidote for poisoning after
organophosphate pesticide exposure
- Bismuth subsalicyate, an anti-diarrheal drug also used by humans.
- Butorphanol, a short-acting painkiller often used before surgery.
- Flunixin, a non-steroidal, non-narcotic treatment for inflammation or
pyrexia.
- Furosemide, a diuretic used to treat pulmonary and udder edema.
- Magnesium hydroxide, a naturally-occurring mineral used as a laxative
and antacid.
- Peroxyacetic/paracetic acid, used to sanitize facility and processing
equipment and as a topical disinfectant on animals and meat and dairy
products.
- Poloxalene, a synthetic substance used to prevent or treat bloating
in cattle and as a stool softener.

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the USDA disagreed
about the appropriate circumstances under which some of these
substances should be used, and for how long. The NOSB recommended a
withdrawal period twice as long as the FDA guidelines for butophanol
and flunixin, and asked for an extended withdrawal period on furosemide
as well. In addition, the NOSB recommended that poloxalene should only
be used in emergency circumstances, while the USDA wanted it to be
available as a preventative treatment.

Comments to the USDA must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2006. They may be
mailed to:

Arthur Neal, Director of Program Administration
National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP
1400 Independence Ave., SW
Room4008-So., Ag Stop 0268
Washington, DC 20250
Fax: 202-205-7808

"jill" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> USDA Considers Expanding List of Allowable Substances in Organic Meat
> 07/24/2006
>
> Increased demand and limited supply of organic beef has led many to
> consider alternatives that would lead to increased production. The USDA
> Agricultural Marketing Service is considering expanding the list of
> allowable substances that can be used in treating livestock, while
> still remaining eligible for organic certification.
>
> The substances being debated include:
> - Atropine, a belladonna-derived antidote for poisoning after
> organophosphate pesticide exposure
> - Bismuth subsalicyate, an anti-diarrheal drug also used by humans.
> - Butorphanol, a short-acting painkiller often used before surgery.
> - Flunixin, a non-steroidal, non-narcotic treatment for inflammation or
> pyrexia.
> - Furosemide, a diuretic used to treat pulmonary and udder edema.
> - Magnesium hydroxide, a naturally-occurring mineral used as a laxative
> and antacid.
> - Peroxyacetic/paracetic acid, used to sanitize facility and processing
> equipment and as a topical disinfectant on animals and meat and dairy
> products.
> - Poloxalene, a synthetic substance used to prevent or treat bloating
> in cattle and as a stool softener.
>
> The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the USDA disagreed
> about the appropriate circumstances under which some of these
> substances should be used, and for how long. The NOSB recommended a
> withdrawal period twice as long as the FDA guidelines for butophanol
> and flunixin, and asked for an extended withdrawal period on furosemide
> as well. In addition, the NOSB recommended that poloxalene should only
> be used in emergency circumstances, while the USDA wanted it to be
> available as a preventative treatment.
>
> Comments to the USDA must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2006. They may be
> mailed to:

This is disgusting! And damn, I'm too late to send in my comments!

Oh well, guess I will continue to eat non-organic stuff. Thank God!

E.

but why would the non-organic be any better?
jill

elaine wrote:
> "jill" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > USDA Considers Expanding List of Allowable Substances in Organic Meat
> > 07/24/2006
> >
> > Increased demand and limited supply of organic beef has led many to
> > consider alternatives that would lead to increased production. The USDA
> > Agricultural Marketing Service is considering expanding the list of
> > allowable substances that can be used in treating livestock, while
> > still remaining eligible for organic certification.
> >
> > The substances being debated include:
> > - Atropine, a belladonna-derived antidote for poisoning after
> > organophosphate pesticide exposure
> > - Bismuth subsalicyate, an anti-diarrheal drug also used by humans.
> > - Butorphanol, a short-acting painkiller often used before surgery.
> > - Flunixin, a non-steroidal, non-narcotic treatment for inflammation or
> > pyrexia.
> > - Furosemide, a diuretic used to treat pulmonary and udder edema.
> > - Magnesium hydroxide, a naturally-occurring mineral used as a laxative
> > and antacid.
> > - Peroxyacetic/paracetic acid, used to sanitize facility and processing
> > equipment and as a topical disinfectant on animals and meat and dairy
> > products.
> > - Poloxalene, a synthetic substance used to prevent or treat bloating
> > in cattle and as a stool softener.
> >
> > The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the USDA disagreed
> > about the appropriate circumstances under which some of these
> > substances should be used, and for how long. The NOSB recommended a
> > withdrawal period twice as long as the FDA guidelines for butophanol
> > and flunixin, and asked for an extended withdrawal period on furosemide
> > as well. In addition, the NOSB recommended that poloxalene should only
> > be used in emergency circumstances, while the USDA wanted it to be
> > available as a preventative treatment.
> >
> > Comments to the USDA must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2006. They may be
> > mailed to:
>
> This is disgusting! And damn, I'm too late to send in my comments!
>
> Oh well, guess I will continue to eat non-organic stuff. Thank God!
>
> E.

but why would the non-organic be any better? I'm not telling anyone
what to do, but I think it's disgusting too, and that is what I
complained to state representatives and senate and USDA about because
as it happens, they still have to read it, it's not too late to
complain or to ask paid reps to do thier jobs better. It is your tax
money paying for this disgusting regulation if you are a US citizen.
jill

elaine wrote:
> "jill" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > USDA Considers Expanding List of Allowable Substances in Organic Meat
> > 07/24/2006
> >
> > Increased demand and limited supply of organic beef has led many to
> > consider alternatives that would lead to increased production. The USDA
> > Agricultural Marketing Service is considering expanding the list of
> > allowable substances that can be used in treating livestock, while
> > still remaining eligible for organic certification.
> >
> > The substances being debated include:
> > - Atropine, a belladonna-derived antidote for poisoning after
> > organophosphate pesticide exposure
> > - Bismuth subsalicyate, an anti-diarrheal drug also used by humans.
> > - Butorphanol, a short-acting painkiller often used before surgery.
> > - Flunixin, a non-steroidal, non-narcotic treatment for inflammation or
> > pyrexia.
> > - Furosemide, a diuretic used to treat pulmonary and udder edema.
> > - Magnesium hydroxide, a naturally-occurring mineral used as a laxative
> > and antacid.
> > - Peroxyacetic/paracetic acid, used to sanitize facility and processing
> > equipment and as a topical disinfectant on animals and meat and dairy
> > products.
> > - Poloxalene, a synthetic substance used to prevent or treat bloating
> > in cattle and as a stool softener.
> >
> > The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) and the USDA disagreed
> > about the appropriate circumstances under which some of these
> > substances should be used, and for how long. The NOSB recommended a
> > withdrawal period twice as long as the FDA guidelines for butophanol
> > and flunixin, and asked for an extended withdrawal period on furosemide
> > as well. In addition, the NOSB recommended that poloxalene should only
> > be used in emergency circumstances, while the USDA wanted it to be
> > available as a preventative treatment.
> >
> > Comments to the USDA must be submitted by Sept. 15, 2006. They may be
> > mailed to:
>
> This is disgusting! And damn, I'm too late to send in my comments!
>
> Oh well, guess I will continue to eat non-organic stuff. Thank God!
>
> E.