The European Union and the United States will align their organic food programs, an effort aimed at eliminating redundancies and increasing access between both markets. Said U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy (D–VT) of the agreement, “By expanding our farmers’ opportunities to sell their organic products overseas, we are expanding the job...
Brattleboro, VT—More and more acreage in the United States is being used for growing organic cotton, according to research from the Organic Trade Association (OTA). The group believes the growth is tied to consumers wanting products made with organic cotton, price premiums and other factors. In the 2010 and Preliminary...
Oakland, CA—Fair trade products certifier Fair Trade USA has made some significant changes to its policies. These changes, part of the Fair Trade USA’s Multiple Ingredients Product Policy, were made after a two-month evaluation with several stakeholders. States Jenna Larson of Fair Trade USA, “What we have done with revision...
Stores can now get staff training via the Web courtesy of Nature’s Formulary of Clifton Park, NY. In-person training with educators is still available, but now stores can bolster their knowledge with 15-minute training videos presented by Amber Vitse, director of Ayurveda education and P. K. Davé, president. Retailers...
Silver Spring, MD—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is cracking down on companies selling over-the-counter (OTC) HCG as weight-loss aids by making the product illegal, citing that fads and diets promising fast weight-loss often do so with unsupported claims and potentially unhealthy ways. According to FDA, human chorionic gonadotropin...
NOW Health Group of Bloomingdale, IL announced a key staff change. Jim Emme, formerly the firm’s COO, is now the president. Former president Al Powers continues to be CEO, with all U.S. and Canada business units reporting to him. “These changes provide a better organizational structure to support our...
New York, NY—Shoppers may not consider natural health and beauty care (HBC) products discretionary purchases; rather, they’re essential. According to market research firm Packaged Facts, sales in the natural HBC market hit $8.5 billion in 2011. This marks a double-digit growth (11%) since 2005. Within this timeframe, haircare was dubbed...
Washington, D.C.—The U.S. Department of Defense announced it will not take any chances with supplements containing DMAA, as it has decided to pull such products from stores on its bases, according to Army Times. This ban included GNC shops on bases worldwide, and will stay in effect until an investigation...
Orlando, FL—The Southeast Natural Products Association (SENPA) held its annual SOHO Exhibition, here, in December. With over 300 exhibitors (including 100 new ones), the event was even bigger than last year. “Exhibits sold in [the 2011] show increased by 10% ending with a total of 320 companies participating,” stated Carylene...
The organic food industry should be on alert for five fraudulent organic certificates circulating in the market, according to the USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP). The certificates falsely represent a slew of products from producers in various countries, including blueberries, cranberries and other berries from Russia; green coffee, green tea...
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