Comments Sought on Organic Certifying

August 10, 2000

USDA has issued a Federal Register notice requesting public comment on the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 requirement that private certifying agents furnish reasonable financial security to protect the rights of participants in the National Organic Program (NOP). On March 13, USDA published a revised NOP proposed rule. The proposed rule stated the amount and terms of reasonable financial security would be the subject of additional rulemaking.

"The financial burden on private certifiers of providing this security should be as minimal as possible. At the same time, their customers must be adequately protected from undue risk," said Kathleen Merrigan, administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service. "Additional public comment on this issue will allow us to craft a rule that balances the needs of both private certifiers and the operations being certified," Merrigan said.

Individuals wishing to submit a comment on this advance notice of proposed rule-making or obtain additional information may contact Beth Hayden at USDA/AMS/TMP/NOP, Room 2510 So., P.O. Box 96456, Washington, D.C. 20090-6456; phone 202-720-3252; fax 202-205-7808 or via e-mail at beth.hayden@usda.gov.

The public comment period on this notice closes on Sept. 8. More information is available on the Internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop