Organic Standard Could be Tightening

There were a couple of pieces of interesting news on the organic front on both regulation and import-export. On Tuesday the US and Japan reported that they had agreed to an organic trade arrangement which allows both sides to add livestock to the list of products that may be certified to either country’s organic standards for sale as organic in both markets.

The second piece of news that should be more interesting to US consumers is the proposed amendments that the USDA/AMS is making to the National Organic Program to strengthen organic enforcement. In reading through the document, there are a few points stick out that could make a difference in the way the market currently functions. The goal is to “strengthen oversight of the production, handling, certification, marketing, and sale of organic agricultural products as established by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990”.

There are a total of 13 points listed as amendments. The first three touch on the key issues. They include reducing the uncertified entities in the organic supply chain. Requiring the use of NOP import certificates for all organic products that reach US shores. Clarify the NOP’s authority to oversee certification activities, including the authority to act against an agent or office of a certifying agent.