It was just announced that the National Organic Program (NOP) staff based in the National Capital Region will not be required to relocate to one of the USDA’s regional hubs. Although a positive outcome for NOP, it’s part of a broader, troubling reorganization effort.
Read ArticleAs mandated by Congress, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins has failed to appoint, in a timely manner, five members to fill vacancies on the 15-member National Organic Standards Board.
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A very concerning development, especially since this could be done virtually at almost no expense. No new date has been given.
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Since 2019, more than half of these complaint investigations have resulted in compliance, and a small amount resulted in civil penalties.
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USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack just announced new programs, partnerships, grant awards and an additional $10 million in funding to expand the markets for organic products and help producers transition to organic production.
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On a list of 2021 suspended and revoked operations by country, the U.S. led the list with 43% of the total, followed by Mexico. However, the U.S. also accounts for 63% of the total count of certified operations.
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At the Organic Trade Association’s annual membership meeting, Secretary Vilsack announced, among other things, the re-establishment of the position of USDA Organic Policy Advisor and “tens of millions of dollars” more for the USDA’s Organic Certification Cost Share program.
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The USDA has missed the Congress-mandated deadline to finalize the very important Origin of Livestock rule.
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A very positive development — The USDA now has 180 days to reconsider its justification in withdrawing the Organic Animal Welfare Standards.
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The USDA is hiring multiple Accreditation Auditors and Investigative Specialists — positions needed more than ever.
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While the USDA might characterize its new rule to combat fraud as “game-changing,” others would classify it as “long overdue.”
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The trade association stated that USDA acted in an unlawful and arbitrary way when it killed the organic animal welfare livestock standards.
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OFARM’s former executive director John Bobbe and Cornucopia’s Anne Ross have joined forces to again impress upon the USDA’s National Organic Program that the import crisis is ongoing and that the agency has not done enough to stop it.
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U.S. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT) said this past week that loopholes in federal organic regulations are hurting small organic dairies, and he vowed to close them.
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Organic farmers and animal welfare advocates have won access to government documents — which have been kept hidden up until now — in their lawsuit against the USDA.
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The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has agreed to hear the Organic Trade Association’s case against the USDA over the agency’s failure to put into effect new organic livestock standards.
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While the OTA’s lawsuit against the USDA is still pending, the agency has officially pulled the plug on the organic animal welfare standards, demonstrating that it is completely beholden to corporate lobbyists.
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In its continued attempt to undermine the integrity of organic, the USDA has pushed back the implementation of the Organic Animal Welfare Standards to 2018, saying that its costs may outweigh its benefits.
Read ArticleProposed instructions on how to crack down on fraudulent organic grains from abroad may not be not strong enough to protect the integrity of organic.
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As Congress prepares for the Farm Bill, Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) told a subcommittee that “uncertainty and dysfunction have overtaken the National Organic Standards Board and the regulations associated with the National Organic Program.”
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The serious issue of fraudulent organic grains from abroad has gotten the attention of Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.).
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In order to protect the integrity of the organic seal, Representative Chellie Pingree calls for clearer organic standards and greater enforcement.
Read ArticleThe USDA has not approved its certified transitional program because of concerns over a lawsuit from The Western Organic Dairy Producers Alliance (WODPA), who thinks the department overstepped its authority.
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The USDA has just announced the renewal of 187 approved ingredients on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). This is just further proof that once a substance gets on this National List, it is very hard for it to be removed.
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