PCC Advocates for Stronger Organic Regulations

October 5, 2020

PCC submitted comments on the National Organic Program’s (NOP) Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) proposed rule, aimed at addressing the issue of organic fraud and improving the integrity of the organic supply chain.

The SOE proposed rule would update and modernize the organic regulations to reduce opportunities for fraud and improve oversight and enforcement in the organic supply chain. The rule would implement the most significant changes since the publication of the original federal organic regulations in 2000.

In addition to providing our own comments, PCC also contributed and signed on — as a full member — to the extensive comments submitted by the National Organic Coalition (NOC). Read NOC’s SOE Comments.

Overall, PCC supports the objectives of the SOE to provide better clarity and systems to prevent fraud in the organic supply chain. However, as a certified organic retailers PCC also made several recommendations on how the SOE rule could strengthen organic integrity even more, including reducing the amount of exempted operations, broadening to scope of the “handle” and “handling” definitions to include more entities, shortening the time frame allowed for submission of import certificates, and requiring labeling on more types of storage and transport containers.

Read PCC’s full comments on the SOE rule here.

Related reading

No Genetic Engineering in Organics

PCC joined the Organic Farmers Association (OFA) in a letter to Secretary Sonny Perdue, expressing solidarity against any potential discussion of incorporating genetic engineering into organic production.

Support for Agricultural Resilience Act

PCC issued a statement of support for the Agricultural Resilience Act (ARA) introduced by Congresswoman Chellie Pingree of Maine. The ARA would set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the agricultural sector, while protecting and supporting rural communities and farmers.

Comments to various NOSB committees

Comments to the National Organic Standards Board on poultry living space and ammonia limits; additives carrageenan, inositol and choline; use of solvents.

PCC Advocates for Stronger Organic Regulations

October 5, 2020

PCC submitted comments on the National Organic Program’s (NOP) Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) proposed rule, aimed at addressing the issue of organic fraud and improving the integrity of the organic supply chain.

The SOE proposed rule would update and modernize the organic regulations to reduce opportunities for fraud and improve oversight and enforcement in the organic supply chain. The rule would implement the most significant changes since the publication of the original federal organic regulations in 2000.

In addition to providing our own comments, PCC also contributed and signed on — as a full member — to the extensive comments submitted by the National Organic Coalition (NOC). Read NOC’s SOE Comments.

Overall, PCC supports the objectives of the SOE to provide better clarity and systems to prevent fraud in the organic supply chain. However, as a certified organic retailers PCC also made several recommendations on how the SOE rule could strengthen organic integrity even more, including reducing the amount of exempted operations, broadening to scope of the “handle” and “handling” definitions to include more entities, shortening the time frame allowed for submission of import certificates, and requiring labeling on more types of storage and transport containers.

Read PCC’s full comments on the SOE rule here.

Related reading

Stop allowing antibiotics for organic fruit

Regarding tetracycline for fruit production, sulphuric acid, potassium hydroxide, annatto color extract, and "other ingredients."

Oppose cuts to value-added and conservation programs

Letter opposing cuts to these programs in the fiscal year 2004 agriculture appropriations

USDA proposed organic standards need revision

To USDA, Keith Jones, NOP, Re: National Organic Standards, Docket # TMD-00-02-PR.