Jan 2, 2024

Comments due soon on organic certification info

Organic growers have until Jan. 22 to comment on the burdens and costs of collecting the information required by organic regulations.

According to the USDA, reporting and recordkeeping are essential to the integrity of the organic certification system. Information collected and maintained by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is the basis for evaluating certifier and operation compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act and USDA organic regulations.

On Nov. 21, USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to revise and extend three years the previously approved information collection renewal titled “National Organic Program”  beyond its existing March 31 expiration date.

This notice proposes updates to forms included in the previously approved information collection package. It also requests changes to eliminate the collection of redundant information and to account for paperwork burden estimates related to the USDA Transition to Organic Partnership Program and public use of the NOP Online Complaint Portal.

NOP is seeking public comment on the proposed revisions, including the burdens, costs and other effects of the information collection required by the USDA organic regulations. Online comments are encouraged. Information on how to submit comments can be found at the Federal Register.