US, Japan Add Livestock Products to Organic Trade Arrangement
The U.S. and Japan expanded their organic trade arrangement to include livestock products, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said July 14. The move will reduce costs and streamline processes for U.S. exporters involved in organic livestock supply chains by requiring only one organic certification, the USTR said.
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“This expanded arrangement … increases access for American organic farmers, ranchers, and businesses to the third largest U.S. organic export market,” Gregg Doud, USTR chief agricultural negotiator, said in a statement. The agreement will open more opportunities for “everyone involved in the international supply chain for livestock, from farm to table,” said Greg Ibach, the U.S. Department of Agriculture's undersecretary for marketing and regulatory programs.
The announcement came after “technical experts” from both the U.S. and Japan conducted on-site audits to ensure that the “regulations, quality control measures, certification requirements and labeling practices are compatible.” Both sides will continue to discuss and review each other’s programs and ensure “the terms of the arrangement are being met.”