It’s a total overhaul of the rules first established in 1990.
The new law is:
•Increasing authority for more rigorous on-site inspections of certified operations.
•Requiring uniform qualification and training standards for organic inspectors and certifying agent personnel.
•Requiring standardized certificates of organic operation.
•Requiring additional and more frequent reporting of data on certified operations.
•Creating authority for more robust record keeping, traceability practices, and fraud prevention procedures.
•Specifying certification requirements for producer groups.
Organic operations, certifying agents, and other organic stakeholders affected by the rule will have one year from the effective date of the rule to comply with the changes.
The United States Department of Agriculture clearly stated the new rules apply to imports.
