The federal government has just released its new proposed rules concerning organic foods. Its about time this happened. The organic food market is skyrocketing with annual double digit growth. As consumers have demonstrated a willingness to pay more for food identified as organic, it is time for the enactment of some national standards to ensure uniformity.

The rules are designed to ensure that consumers understand what it is that they are buying when the package says "organic." Specifically, the rules help guarantee that food claiming to be organic was actually grown without the use of man-made chemicals.

Food that is grown and processed within the new guidelines will be authorized to can carry a seal reflecting satisfaction of he Department of Agriculture standards. While there are approximately 10,000 farmers in the U.S. who make assertions that they are growing organic products, only 6,600 are approved by various certifying agencies as organic growers.

Under this proposal, a single national organic standard is created. Without this, various states are free to decide what is and what is not organic, within the confines of their own borders. Of course, this has made intra-state selling difficult. A national standard ensures that everyone is talking about exactly the same thing.

According to be Department of Agriculture, its first set of organic food rule proposals was published in 1997. The Agency states that it received over 275,000 comments criticizing its first attempt and they had to be re-written. The new rule proposals are the Agency's second chance at getting this right.

Unlike the 1997 effort, the new regulations would prohibit the use of genetic engineering, and sewage sludge as fertilizer. States are free to adopt their own program. If the federal government approves a state program, the state can carry out the product review and approval process.

Companies selling less than $5 thousand per year in product can make organic claims without receiving prior government approval. Such companies must still meet federal requirements.

Growing fields have certain requirements as well. Among others, they must be free from non-organic crop growth for at least three years. In addition, preference is given to organic seeds. Apparently some farmers have been using sewer sludge as fertilizer. Farmers seeking organic certification will not be able to continue this process.

In the case of livestock, animals taken to slaughter must be raised with organic food from their first day of life. In the case of poultry, organic food must start on the second day of life. I guess they can eat whatever they want on day One. The livestock must also have access to the outdoors, unless they are confined for reasons of health and safety. Foods that are labeled 100 percent organic must contain only organically produced or processed products. Products labeled organic must consist of at least 95 organically produced ingredients. Truthfully, I think people are going to be confused between the "100% organic" and the "organic" designations. There are large fines which may be assessed against any one who knowingly mislabels a product.

Under the proposal, products containing 50-95% organic ingredients can use the phrase "made with organic [specify the ingredient]." Up to three ingredients can be identified in this manner. If a product contains less than 50% organic ingredients, its labeling cannot contain any organic claims.

If you think you have seen everything, consider this. Pascoes is a British organic dog food company. As of now, this product is not available for sale in the United State. So far, Fido can only pick up his organic grub in Europe. With organic food sales for people now at all time highs, it was only a matter of time when canines would get the respect they deserve.

The information provided in this column is written by Stuart Lieberman,a practicing environmental attorney, and is for general information purposes only. It is not legal advice and should not be used in place of legal advice.

Stuart Lieberman, Esq., and IRED.Com, Inc., will not accept any responsibilty for any reliance on the information in this column or any damages whatsoever resulting from reading this column.