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 allows the exemption to apply only to those who
exclusively produce and market products certified as 100 percent organic, but
the proposed rule would broaden application to include all organic products
regardless of whether the person or company imports or handles nonorganic
products as well. Comments on the proposed rule must be received by
January 15, 2015. See Federal Register, December 16, 2014.

Issue 549