New proposed guidelines for the USDA BioPreferred program have been published in the Federal Register. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says these guidelines could expand the ability of USDA to designate biobased products for federal purchase. USDA is proposing to allow for the designation of intermediate ingredients including fibers and chemicals so the products made from them can more easily be designated for preferred procurement. Vilsack says the proposed guidelines are an example of the way the BioPreferred program is being tailored to supplement production of products from new farm-based sources, supporting economic expansion and creating jobs from the farm to the finished product.

USDA says the new regulation also allows for the designation of complex assemblies that contain one or more components made from biobased ingredients. In addition – USDA is proposing to revise some definitions and terminology used in existing guidelines in an effort to clarify operating procedures. According to Vilsack – these actions will incorporate statutory changes to the 2008 Farm Bill and will make improvements to the existing guidelines based on 10 years of operating experience.

USDA just celebrated the anniversary of one year of voluntary USDA biobased product certification and labeling. More than 670 biobased products from more than 200 companies have been certified as of last month. Vilsack says the USDA Certified Biobased Products are available to consumers and are now appearing on the shelves of supermarkets and other businesses across the country

Courtesy: NAFB News