Support for Continuous Improvement in Organic

April 30, 2021

PCC has publicly endorsed the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards (CIAO) Act, developed by the Organic Trade Association in collaboration with members of congress.

The CIAO Act calls on USDA to create an action plan for clearing the backlog of National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations and a system of accountability and transparency for ensuring that future NOSB recommendations are prioritized. This is important because there has been a long history of the USDA stalling or delaying implementation of NOSB recommendations and rules. For example, the organic community and the NOSB have been pushing the USDA for 18 years now to implement rules crucial to the economic vitality of small organic dairies, known as the Origin of Livestock rule.

Read more about the CIAO Act here.

Related reading

PCC Advocates for Stronger Organic Regulations

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.

Proposed improvements to the Farm Bill

Letter to U.S. Senators re: competition, COOL, commodity payments, farm worker justice, and organic agriculture.

Securing funding for WSU's organics research

Thank you to Senator Patty Murray; re: supporting the organic crop research and education program at WSU.