USDA published final organic enforcement rule

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Wednesday published the final revision of its updated rules for the production, sale and certification of organic farm and food products, according to a USDA press release issued Wednesday.

The new Strengthening Organic Enforcement rules were created following mandates from the 2018 Farm Bill following industry requests for stronger regulation of organic agriculture and food processing, the press release said.

The new rules now require more rigorous on-site inspections of certified operations, uniform training for organic inspectors, creates standard organic certificates, increased record-keeping and data reporting, requires businesses seeking organic certification also use certified brokers and traders, and mandates organic certificates for all organic imports.

“The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule is the biggest update to the organic regulation since the original act in 1990, providing a significant increase in oversight and enforcement authority to reinforce the trust of consumers, farmers and those transitioning to organic production,” said USDA Undersecretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt in the press release.

For more information on the final rule, visit the USDA’s website at www.ams.usda.gov/organic/SOE.