Dear stakeholder,
The USDA National Organic Program (NOP) published the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule on January 19, 2023. This rulemaking is the single largest update to the NOP regulations since their original publication in 2000, and works to strengthen the existing organic regulations in the face of complex supply chain challenges, robust market growth, and fraud in the organic industry.
The NOP began drafting this regulatory update in response to stakeholder requests to improve certifier oversight of organic production systems, as well as to incorporate amendments to the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) included in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. After receiving more than 1,500 public comments expressing support or making recommendations, the NOP published the long-awaited Final Rule, which goes into effect on March 20, 2023. The USDA has set an implementation date of March 19, 2024, allowing certifying agents and certified operators adequate time to implement the many changes included in the rule. By this date, full compliance with the updated regulations is required.
The full text of the SOE Final Rule and related documentation can be found here on the USDA website. For a concise overview of the Final Rule, USDA has prepared a brief summary of the changes in a fact sheet that can be accessed here.
OMRI is currently evaluating how the SOE Final Rule may affect our input review policies and OMRI Listed® manufacturers. Of particular interest are potential impacts for those products that formulate with agricultural ingredients in the classes Processing Agricultural Ingredients and Processing Aids (PA), Processing Nonagricultural Ingredients and Processing Aids (PN) and Livestock Feed Ingredients (LF). It is currently unclear how these products may be affected, if at all.
OMRI will continue to provide updates as they become available.
