penalties

Organic certifiers, like those pictured above auditing an operation in Mexico, are a vital part of a complete and scalable system that supports organic integrity. While they conduct investigations as the need arises, they regularly audit operations from top to bottom, examining every component of the farm or facility as part of their on-site inspections. About a hundred certifying agents help oversee nearly 29,000 USDA organic operations across the world.

Organic 101: Complaints and How They're Handled

This is the fourth installment of the Organic 101 series that explores different aspects of the USDA organic regulations.

When the National Organic Program (NOP) declared in late 2009 that it was the beginning of the “age of enforcement,” it renewed its mission to protect the integrity of the USDA organic seal and the products labeled organic.

Enforcement efforts are a critical part of that mission, and investigating violations of the organic standards alleged by complaints is an integral component of the NOP’s work.

Miles McEvoy, National Organic Program Deputy Administrator Posted in Health and Safety

Apr 13, 2012

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