What will be the role of USDA in certifying organic farms, wild crop harvesting operations, and handling operations?
The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA) requires the certification of operations producing and handling organic products, except in limited circumstances. Under our proposal, the system used to produce and handle organic products, rather than the product itself, would be certified. The activities involved in certifying organic operations, such as reviewing applications, conducting inspections, and determining certification status, would be conducted by State and private certifying agents accredited by USDA. USDA would conduct the process for denying or terminating certification. What is the process for USDA accreditation of State and private certifying agents? The proposed USDA accreditation program would provide several safeguards to ensure that the organic standards and certification requirements are fairly and impartially enforced. To become accredited, an applicant would have to demonstrate that its personnel have the capability and experience to carry out the certification
