Comments on stronger organic enforcement due midnight Oct. 5

The official comment period for a serious piece of rulemaking for the National Organic Program will close by midnight Monday.

Official comments on the USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) proposed rule are due before 11:59 p.m. EST, Oct. 5.

The proposed rule significantly updates the USDA organic regulations to strengthen oversight and enforcement throughout the organic supply chain, the USDA has said.

The proposed regulation would implement new oversight authority provided in the 2018 Farm Bill, according to a news release from the USDA. It includes recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board and the Office of Inspector General and draws from USDA’s experience in enforcing the organic regulations. USDA met with and discussed provisions of the proposed rule with all sectors of the industry and invites additional input during the 60-day public comment period.

Comments must be submitted through www.regulations.gov and will be considered by USDA as it develops the final rule.

The USDA has published a number of newsletters with information on the proposed rule:

• Part 1: Increasing Oversight Across Organic Supply Chains
• Part 2: Mandatory Use of NOP Import Certificates
• Part 3: Improved Recordkeeping & Fraud Prevention for Farms and Businesses
• Part 4: Improved Recordkeeping & Fraud Prevention for Accredited Certifiers
• Part 5: On-Site Inspections, Organic Inspectors & Grower Groups
• Part 6: Closing the Gaps