Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., August 15, 2008 Av 14, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:48 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

'Organic' label can mislead, warns Bio-organic Agro society By Rina Rozenberg and Amiram Cohen Tags: Israel, organic produce Anybody can label produce "organic" and even a new law won't help, say organic growers. Agriculture Ministry regulations meant to reconcile issues of labeling and sale of local organic produce were approved by the Knesset Economic Affairs Committee yesterday. But the Israel Bio-organic Agriculture Association claims that the law will not prohibit or limit the use of the term "organic," and that any farmer will still be able to label his produce as he wishes. The problem lies in enforecement, the organization says. Committee chairman Gilad Erdan, who sees the problematic nature of the amended law, promised the organization that he and the Agriculture Ministry would take steps to change it before the upcoming recess. According to the approved regulations, organic products will be labeled with two symbols: the Agriculture Ministry's organic logo and that of a regulating organization - Agrior, Skal Israel or IQC, the three organizations chosen for the purpose. From now on, only regulated products will be entitled to such logos. The three companies were chosen through an Agriculture Ministry tender. In addition, the rules oblige separation between organic and conventional produce at points of sale, to enable consumers to easily differentiate between the two. Not much will change for consumers. They will still be forced to search for the organic labeling on products to ensure that they meet organic regulations, but even then they can't be sure. Advertisement "The law will provide no advantage, and could even result in deception. The knowledge that a legal arrangement exists may lead consumers to mistakenly assume that the word organic appearing on labels means that the product is being supervised," says Dr. Oranit Raz, director of the Bio-organic society. "[The law] is only a superficial solution, and its potential damage may far exceed its benefit," she added. Raz says that as soon as the issue of supervision and enforcement is solved, the law will achieve its aim. Also, the regulations currently only cover vegetable products, which constitute 37% of all organic sales in Israel. Other food products will be addressed only next year. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Robbed in the war zone Two Haaretz journalists robbed by armed Russian troops in Georgian city of Gori. The Jewish Brad Pitt Hollywood star plays American-Jewish hillbilly in the latest Tarantino film.

Read & React PMO: Israel won't take in any Palestinian refugees Responses: 253 Georgia president denies Israel halted military aid Responses: 40 Editorial: Israel must tone down its warmongering Responses: 47 Ari Shavit: Russia is as threatening to the West as radical Islam Responses: 72 Yair Sheleg: Silent settler majority must speak out againt its violent youth Responses: 25 More Headlines 01:19 Nasrallah: 'Failed' Israeli generals caused Georgia defeat in war 00:27 Georgia Pres.: Russian tanks moving deeper into my country 01:43 ANALYSIS / By failing to aid Georgia, Israel harming efforts against Iran nukes 00:19 Olmert aides: Talansky's evasion of court shows he can't be trusted 02:37 ANALYSIS / Talansky's absence won't save Olmert from indictment 22:06 Ahmadinejad, Turkish leaders fail to agree on proposed energy deals 16:22 Brad Pitt becomes Jewish hillbilly in new Tarantino film 08:14 Haaretz newsletter: All the news from Israel direct to your inbox 21:31 'If we die, Abbas is to blame,' say Fatah fugitives stranded in Gaza 01:55 Phone company's 'Einstein' ads shelved due to Hebrew U. copyright row 23:05 UN: We've cleared half the cluster bombs Israel dropped on Lebanon 00:30 Olympics / Swimmer returns to Israel after smashing records 21:24 Two Haaretz journalists robbed by armed Russian troops in Georgia 21:19 B'tselem: IDF only launched 4 probes into 189 Palestinian deaths Previous Editions Select Day 14 aug 13 aug 12 aug 11 aug 10 aug 08 aug 07 aug 06 aug 05 aug 04 aug 03 aug 01 aug

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Isaac Maimon at Dreamshoppe Special summer sale. Make an offer now. You will be surprised. MBA in Israel in English APPLY NOW! Limited spaces available Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Yossi Avrahami Presents: New Luxurious Projects in North Tel Aviv & Eilat Your vacation starts here Israel Travel Center Guaranteed Lowest Rates Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved