Healthy Buildings News reports today that it has learned that at the Department of Agriculture (USDA) will announce that some polyvinyl chloride products (also known as PVC or vinyl) will soon carry the USDA Organic label. The designation will be granted to products that have been certified as made from vinyl, a combination of "common salt... and... natural gas."

"Vinyl will be the first non-agricultural product to earn the coveted designation, taking advantage of a little known loophole in the law that apparently does not restrict the label to agricultural products, but makes it available to all 'products' made from at least 95% organic 'ingredients.'"

HBN quotes an official of the vinyl industry who points out that natural gas is made up of decomposed plant matter.

PVC products bearing the label are expected to cost slightly more than non-labeled products made with the same material.

HBN said the ruling makes April 1, 2009 a day to remember.