There are about 100 government and association “standards for organic produce” around the world.
In Australia, for instance, there is one government standard for exported organic produce and a number of different industry standards covering domestic organic produce. Several researchers are looking for new and simple testing methods. Because organic foods bring higher Iriprofits, fraud is increasingly common.
It seems there is much work to be done.
Update:
From Irish Farmers Journal:
“…the wholesome image of ‘organic’ has also been adopted by advertisers to sell many other products such as cosmetics and ‘organic pure water‘ (go figure!).
‘Organic’ is becoming a debased cliché’ – rather like ‘executive’, ‘designer’ and ‘de-tox’ before it.”