USDA’s BioPreferred program plans to launch a voluntary product certification and labeling program for biobased products, the agency said in a news release.
The new label is intended to identify biobased products made from renewable resources, and promote the increased sale and use of these products in the commercial and consumer markets.
“Today’s consumers are increasingly interested in making educated purchasing choices for their families,” Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan said in the release. “These products have enormous potential to create green jobs in rural communities, add value to agricultural commodities, decrease environmental impacts, and reduce our dependence on imported oil.”
Biobased products are those composed wholly or significantly of biological ingredients – renewable plant, animal, marine or forestry materials. The new label indicates that the product has been certified to meet USDA standards for a prescribed amount of biobased content.
The final rule applies to product manufacturers and distributors who wish to label products with USDA’s distinctive product mark. |