The largest update to the National Organic Program since its creation, the Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule, will be published as early as Wednesday, said The Packer. It said USDA confirmed on Tuesday that publication was imminent of the rule that has been under consideration since summer 2020.
“The federal program enables a flourishing industry — that show no signs of slowing down — to thrive,” said The Packer. The rule would take effect after a 60-day waiting period and enforcement would begin one year later.
The new rule “will likely impose new import certificate requirements, help with fraud prevention analysis and close gaps that might have previously existed in the supply chain,” said The Packer. “What’s more, the SOE final rule will require organic certification from companies in the supply chain that interact with USDA-certified organic products, but it will include exemptions for certain companies that do not physically handle organic product. This means many companies who haven’t had to achieve organic certification to sell, handle or trade organic products will have to achieve organic certification.”
A draft version of the rule, estimated at over 50,000 words, was published by the Agricultural Marketing Service in August 2020. More than 1,500 comments were filed during the comment period that ended on Oct. 5, 2020.
A summary of the proposed rule and a link to the text are available here.