Nothing says it better than this sentence from the RCA's press release:
We believe that the kosher food industry as a whole maintains an exemplary level of ethical practice, thanks in part to the presence of kosher agencies and supervisors.
The two largest suppliers of glatt kosher meat – the only kind the RCA's parent organization, the OU, certifies – Agriprocessors and Alle, are both credibly accused of horrendous labor practices. These two companies alone supply more than 75% of all glatt kosher meat sold in America.
Further, the OU has said time and time again that its rabbis are not responsible for he business ethics or safety issues of the companies it certifies.
And the RCA's new project says, essentially, the same thing:
The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) has today announced the formation of a high level Task Force that will produce a detailed practical guide to Jewish Principles and Ethical Guidelines, as applied to business and industry in general, and the kosher food industry in particular.…
The purpose of the Guide will be two-fold:
1. It will require that a condition of kosher food certification be an agreement to adhere to all relevant civil laws and regulations as formulated, monitored and enforced by existing government regulatory and enforcement agencies, in whichever country they occur. Violations of such laws will be viewed by kosher agencies with utmost seriousness.
2. It will formulate and clarify relevant principles of Jewish law and ethics governing business conduct. Companies interested in conforming to the highest standards of Jewish ethics will be encouraged to adopt these principles voluntarily wherever possible, as a matter of corporate social responsibility.
I told the Hechsher Tzedek people more than one year ago that the OU would do something like this.
And I wrote on this blog (I don't have time right now to hunt down exactly where I wrote it) that the Conservative rabbis move so slowly that the OU would simply be able to wait for what it felt to be the opportune moment and then pounce. The Conservative rabbis, I said, would be too slow to effectively respond.
I should point out that sluggishness is not the fault of Rabbi Morris Allen who started Hechsher Tzedek; it is the fault of a movement that runs by committee and decides by consensus, with meetings scheduled months in advance.
Here is the RCA press release in full:
RCA Task Force to Publish Jewish Principles and Ethical Guidelines for Business and Industry
Sep 24, 2008 -- The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) has today announced the formation of a high level Task Force that will produce a detailed practical guide to Jewish Principles and Ethical Guidelines, as applied to business and industry in general, and the kosher food industry in particular.
The Task Force will be chaired by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir. Rabbi Meir is a leading authority in the field of Jewish business ethics and is the author of two weekly syndicated columns on the topic. The first, "The Jewish Ethicist," analyzes contemporary ethical dilemmas from the standpoint of Jewish tradition. The second, "Ethics at Work," adopts a more general ethical perspective, and has appeared weekly in the Jerusalem Post since 2004. In addition, other prominent members of the RCA, including well-known experts in the field of business ethics, have been appointed to the Task Force. The Task Force will also consult with respected representatives of the kosher food industry as well as business professionals.
We believe that the kosher food industry as a whole maintains an exemplary level of ethical practice, thanks in part to the presence of kosher agencies and supervisors. Nonetheless, we attach importance to having ethical guidelines incorporated as a matter of policy by companies receiving kosher supervision, thereby further raising the level of ethical compliance throughout the industry.
The purpose of the Guide will be two-fold:
1. It will require that a condition of kosher food certification be an agreement to adhere to all relevant civil laws and regulations as formulated, monitored and enforced by existing government regulatory and enforcement agencies, in whichever country they occur. Violations of such laws will be viewed by kosher agencies with utmost seriousness.
2. It will formulate and clarify relevant principles of Jewish law and ethics governing business conduct. Companies interested in conforming to the highest standards of Jewish ethics will be encouraged to adopt these principles voluntarily wherever possible, as a matter of corporate social responsibility.
In announcing the initiative, Rabbi Shlomo Hochberg, President of the RCA, stated, "Ethics and social responsibility are central to the Torah and the rabbinic tradition, in business no less than in the home, the synagogue and the school. We are fully aware of the realities of a competitive marketplace spread all over the globe, and the need to provide affordable kosher food. In taking this step, the RCA seeks as a practical matter to reinforce ethical values and corporate policies, while ensuring a reliable and affordable supply of food products for the kosher consumer."
[Hat Tip: steve.]