Anti-Pesticide Group Calls for Anti-Nanotech Comments to National Organic Program

Beyond Pesticides, a Washington, D.C.-based organization opposed to the
use of pesticides, has issued a call for comments to the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) supporting recommendations
by the National Organic Standards Board that would prohibit the use
of engineered nanomaterials from certified organic products. According to
the organization’s blog, the board passed the recommendations during its
October 25-26, 2010, meeting.

Among other matters, the recommendations include a working definition
for engineered nanomaterials and propose that engineered nanomaterials be
prohibited in both organic production processing and packaging. The board
also called for NOP to schedule a symposium on the topic to consider whether
the definition is adequate and enforceable and the best regulatory approach
to address the matter. Beyond Pesticides is concerned about the unknown
“long-term impacts of nanomaterials on human health and the environment.”