By Mitch Lies, Farm Progress
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| โWe are now seeing up to 95 percent of NOP (National Organic Program) import certificates that are coming in are validโฆ We really closed the door on illegitimate shipments,โ says Jennifer Tucker, deputy administrator for the USDAโs National Organic Program. |
Farmers, food processors and importers who were expecting a soft rollout of the USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule might want to think again.
Since the March 19 implementation of the rule, the agency has uncovered several incidents of fraud in the organic marketplace, particularly involving imports, and is prosecuting offenders.
“We are certainly finding product that has been sent to the United States that cannot be sold as organic in the United States, and we are stopping that,” said Jennifer Tucker, deputy administrator for the USDA’s National Organic Program.
In addition, a grace period where distributors and others in the supply chain were granted an extension to get certified, has now expired. “We are at the point where everybody in the supply chain needs to be certified,” Tucker said.
The developments, Tucker said, already have resulted in positive outcomes, particularly when it comes to stopping illegitimate imports.
“We are now seeing up to 95 percent of NOP (National Organic Program) import certificates that are coming in are valid, which means that we really closed the gap on products coming into the United States without an import certificate,” Tucker said. “We really closed the door on illegitimate shipments.”
Tucker, along with representatives of organic certifiers John Foster and Connie Karr, and organic farmer-processor John McKeon of Taylor Farms are participating in a panel discussion on the new rules at the Organic Growers Summit, Dec. 5, beginning at 10:15 a.m. at the Hyatt Regency Monterey.
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