NOC Cheers Introduction of Bipartisan Bill to Advance Organic Integrity & Continuous Improvement

New legislation to strengthen the integrity of the USDA National Organic Program has been introduced in the House by Representatives Newhouse (R-WA- 04), Carbajal (D-CA-24), Panetta (D-CA-19), Valadao (R-CA- 22), and Pingree (D-ME-01). 

The legislation, the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic (CIAO) Act, H.R. 5973, brings much needed transparency and predictability to the process for updating organic standards to ensure organic standards continuously evolve and improve. The bill would amend the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to create a two-step process to update the organic standards in a timely manner, with input from the organic community and the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), the USDA’s existing advisory committee.

“The organic community has long been frustrated by the slow pace of progress to update the organic standards to reflect recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB),” said Abby Youngblood, Executive Director at the National Organic Coalition. ‘The National Organic Coalition strongly supports the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Act - it provides a new mechanism to ensure that organic standards updates happen in a regular manner and in full consultation with the NOSB.”

The legislation is supported by a coalition consisting of the Organic Trade Association, the National Organic Coalition, the Organic Farmers Association, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, and the Organic Produce Association. The bill reflects one of the National Organic Coalition’s top priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill legislation.

The bill requires the USDA to review and revise national organic standards “not less frequently than once every five years.” It highlights the continuation of the established process of consultation with the National Organic Standards Board and input from the public. It states that in proposing any revisions, the USDA and the National Organic Standards Board “shall consider the best available information, including environmental and ecological data, consumer and market data, current organic production and handling practices, current organic research, and scientific data.” 

Since the first nationwide organic standards were officially established on Dec. 21, 2000, the comprehensive network of federal requirements and regulations that monitor and check the organic industry supply chain have been transparent, and driven by organic farmers, consumers, and businesses. This unique private-public partnership has made the organic regulatory system the gold standard for food and agricultural systems around the world. 

The organic sector has thrived under the system, growing to more than a $67 billion market in the U.S., with the USDA Organic seal one of the most trusted consumer labels. However, unregulated labels in the grocery aisles continue to proliferate, sometimes causing confusion among consumers and threatening to weaken the confidence in the USDA Organic label.  

The federal regulatory apparatus has fallen behind the evolving organic sector and the market and has slowed innovation and continuous improvement within the industry.  This legislation will ensure that regulations are more responsive to the needs of organic producers, organic consumers, and others in the organic community.

A Senate companion bill to this legislation has not yet been introduced.