James Andreasen & Christopher McDonald, “Agricultural Sustainability Standards Could Affect You,” Pork Exec, November 2008

SHB Tort lawyers James Andreasen and Christopher McDonald have co-authored an article that discusses developments in the drafting of an agricultural sustainability standard under the auspices of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). Noting that the initial draft, “if finalized, could have broad-reaching impact,” the authors observe that a number of stakeholders have already “expressed concerns about certain aspects of the draft,” which is intended to cover agricultural activities “from seed to store.” Among the draft’s requirements for agricultural producers would be (i) the adoption of organic practices, (ii) limitations on and phase-out of “synthetic” pesticides and fertilizers, and (iii) employment practices in the areas of collective bargaining rights and union organizing activities “that may go beyond existing legal requirements.” The article notes that voluntary ANSI standards are often adopted by governments as legal requirements and indicates how interested parties can become involved in the standard’s development.