Karen Florini, chair of the Keep Antibiotics Working steering committee, sent this letter to USDA Secretary Ann Veneman, thanking her for action taken in support of organic standards and limits on antibiotic use. --------------------------------------------------- June 16, 2004 The Honorable Ann Veneman, Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture 14th Street and Independence Avenue, SW Washington D.C. 20250 Dear Secretary Veneman: I am writing on behalf of the Keep Antibiotics Working coalition (KAW) to thank you for withdrawing the four directives concerning USDA's organic standards that were issued in April 2004 by the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). KAW is a coalition of health, consumer, agricultural, environmental, humane, and other advocacy groups, with more than nine million supporters of its member organizations. In a May 2004 letter to you, KAW expressed our deep concern about the directive on "Origin of Livestock." This directive explicitly allowed the use in organic milk production of dairy cows that have been treated with antibiotics, once they have been through a one-year transition period. The directive undercut the fundamental consumer expectation that organic animal products are derived from animals not treated with antibiotics. Now that the directive has been withdrawn, KAW urges USDA to publicly confirm (by, for example, posting a statement on the USDA website) that antibiotics are never allowed in animals used to produce organic dairy or any other animal products. Our May 2004 letter also articulated KAW's concern about the procedure used to develop the directives – which were developed without any prior consultation with the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) or the public at large. We were extremely pleased to read, in your May 26, 2004 statement concerning the directives, that you have directed AMS to work with the NOSB to develop policies concerning issues raised by the directives. Consultation with NOSB and the public at large is essential to maintaining industry and consumer confidence in the integrity of USDA's organic standards. Your direction to AMS to work with the NOSB is an important step towards a more public and cooperative process on the organic standards. KAW hopes that this process will facilitate greater industry and consumer support for USDA's organic program, not only on issues raised by the directives, but also on the full range of other important issues such as existing NOSB recommendations, selection of technical advisory panel contractors, and sunset provisions for organic materials. Again, I want to thank you for your prompt action rescinding the AMS directives. Yours truly, Karen Florini Chair, Steering Committee Keep Antibiotics Working