Genetically modified livestock vaccines are causing consternation in the organic industry, which is having a hard time deciphering which vaccines are made with prohibited methods.
The conundrum of keeping genetically engineered vaccines out of organic production will be considered during the Oct. 28-30, 2014 meeting of the National Organic Standards Board, which advises the USDA on organic policy.
“The challenge is we need a new definition of ‘excluded method,” said Jean Richardson, a retired environmental studies professor and an NOSB member who is studying the issue.
Vaccines produced with genetic engineering are officially banned from organic livestock production but in reality most certifiers don’t require farmers to document they’re using non-GE vaccines, according to an NOSB document that will be reviewed at the upcoming meeting.
Farmers and certifiers lack an easy way to identify vaccines that have been manufactured with genetic engineering, the document said.
“The problem is you really can’t tell them apart,” said Mark Kastel, co-founder of the Cornucopia Institute, an organic industry watchdog group. “Even though a problem exists, there’s no way to currently enforce the prohibition.”
Read full, original article: Organic industry confused by GMO vaccines
