USDA Adopts Final Rule for Residue Testing of Organic Agricultural Products

The Agricultural Marketing Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture
(USDA) has issued a final rule clarifying that the Organic Foods Production Act
of 1990 and its implementing regulations require “periodic residue testing of
organically produced agricultural products by accredited certifying agents.”
Effective January 1, 2013, the rule also “expands the amount of residue testing
of organically produced agricultural products by clarifying that sampling and
testing are required on a regular basis [and] requires that certifying agents, on
an annual basis, sample and conduct residue testing from a minimum of five
percent of the operations that they certify.” See Federal Register, November 9,
2012.