The Policy Team and Certification staff are gearing up for the release of proposed changes to the National Organic Program (NOP). While the official rule, called the Strengthening Organic Enforcement proposed rule, is not out yet, the NOP has released a pre-published draft and other resources on their website. OTA has also compiled a 10 page summary.
We expect the proposed rule to:
- Reducir los tipos de entidades no certificadas en la cadena de suministro orgánica (importadores, intermediarios, comerciantes).
- Exigir el uso de certificados de importación NOP para todos los productos orgánicos que entren en los Estados Unidos.
- Clarify NOP oversight of certification activities, including that NOP oversight extends to the activities of any person performing work on behalf of a certifying agent
- Exigir a las operaciones certificadas y a los agentes certificadores que mejoren el mantenimiento de registros
- Exigir que los agentes certificadores realicen inspecciones sin previo aviso del 5 por ciento de las operaciones que certifica.
We are tracking this rule and will let you know when the NOP releases the official rule, which will kickstart a 60-day comment period. If you would like to discuss the rule with CCOF, please contact me at nlakritz@ccof.org.