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

Oral testimony for a transitional organic label

Oral comments urging USDA to develop a transitional program to encourage growth in organic acreage and supply

Continued Support for Justice for Black Farmers Act

As members of both National Co+op Grocers and the National Organic Coalition, PCC endorsed the Justice for Black Farmers Act of 2021, introduced to the U.S. House of Representatives by Representative Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (NC-12).