Tag: organic
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Consumer Organizations Allege USDA Violated Procedure with Contaminated Compost Rule
The Center for Food Safety, Center for Environmental Health and Beyond Pesticides have filed a lawsuit against the leaders of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Marketing Service and National Organic Program (NOP) arguing that USDA failed to allow public comments on a contaminated compost rule before issuing a guidance document on the subject.…
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Groups Challenge Change to Organic Law’s Sunset Provision
Several policy groups, including Food & Water Watch and the Center for Food Safety, have filed a lawsuit challenging a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) procedural change in how ingredients are removed from the National List, a list of synthetics exempted from the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA). Ctr. for Food Safety v. Vilsack, No.…
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Townsend Farms and Costco Sued over Hepatitis Outbreak
The estate and survivors of an 89-year-old woman who died after eating imported pomegranate seeds linked to a Hepatitis A outbreak have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Townsend Farms Inc., Costco Wholesale Corp. and others alleging strict liability for a product defect, negligence and breach of implied warranties. Schelitzche v. Townsend Farms Inc., No.…
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Groups Challenge California Pesticide-Spraying Plan
Several organizations, including the Center for Biological Diversity, Environmental Working Group and Center for Food Safety as well as the city of Berkeley, California, have filed a lawsuit against the California Department of Food and Agriculture to contest the agency’s approval of a pest management plan that allows pesticide spraying on organic farms, schools and…
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USDA Extends Comment Period for Organic Product Exemption Under Commodity Promotion Law
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Marketing Service has extended until February 17, 2015, the comment period for a proposed rule that would expand assessment exemptions for commodity promotion activities “to cover all ‘organic’ and ‘100 percent organic’ products certified under the National Organic Program regardless of whether the person requesting the exemption also produces,…
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NOP Clarifies Conservation Requirements for Organic Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program (NOP) has published draft guidance clarifying the agency’s interpretation of regulations that require organic operations to “maintain or improve the natural resources of the operation, including soil and water quality.” Intended for accredited certifying agents and certified operations, the guidance provides examples of production practices that support the…
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USDA Proposes Expansion of Organic Products Assessment Exemption
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has proposed a rule that would allow anyone producing, handling, marketing, or importing certified organic products to be exempt from paying the assessments associated with commodity promotion activities like advertising. The exemption would cover all “organic” and “100 percent organic” products certified under the National Organic Program. The current rule…
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Oregon GE Alfalfa Farmers Challenge County Ban
Oregon farmers who grow genetically engineered (GE) alfalfa have filed a complaint seeking a declaration that a May 20, 2014, Jackson County ordinance banning GE crops in the county conflicts with state law, or, in the alternative, damages “as just compensation for the forced destruction of their property.” Schulz Family Farms LLC v. Jackson Cty.,…