WASHINGTON, July 12, 2013 - To demonstrate an increased commitment to their biobased program, USDA announced eight new categories falling under the BioPreferred Program.
USDA has designated the following new categories: aircraft and boat cleaners; automotive care products, engine crankcase oil; gasoline fuel additives; metal cleaners and corrosion removers; microbial cleaning products; paint removers; and water turbine bearing oils.
"Every day, companies across the nation are creating incredible new products from crops grown here at home, expanding markets for agriculture and growing job opportunities in rural America," said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. "The designation of these new categories underlines the Obama Administration's commitment to strengthening the biobased economy.”
The BioPreferred Program also has reopened the web portal for companies to apply for the voluntary USDA Certified Biobased Product label. Thus far about 900 individual products have received the USDA Certified Biobased Product label.
Later this year the BioPreferred program is expected to finalize a rule that will extend to designating intermediate ingredients so products made from them could be part of the preferred Federal procurement process. That regulation would also allow for the designation of complex assemblies that contain one or more components from biobased ingredients.
The BioPreferred Program was authorized in the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. Secretary Vilsack noted that a long-term Food, Farm and Jobs Bill is critical to continuing USDA's investment in the BioPreferred Program.
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