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USDA's New Biobased Label Now With Third Party Certification
by GSI staff March 11, 2011
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected ASTM International to provide certification for its biobased labeling program, a voluntary initiative to identify biobased products and to promote their sale among consumers. Increased use of biobased products may result in reduced petroleum consumption, increased use of renewable resources, and contribute to reduced adverse environmental and health impacts. USDA's biobased program is also expected to promote economic development, creating new jobs and providing new markets for farm commodities. The biobased program has a product labeling program and a federal procurement preference initiative. More information on the biopreferred program can be found at http://www.biopreferred.gov/
As the selected provider, ASTM International will manage the Certification Program for Biobased Products, which determines the product and package biobased content for participating manufacturers and vendors. The products will be tested by an outside accredited laboratory according to ASTM standard D6866, Test Methods for Determining the Biobased Content of Solid, Liquid and Gaseous Samples Using Radiocarbon Analysis.