The USDA’s updated organic regulations, effective as of March 2024, bring several significant changes aimed at strengthening the enforcement of organic food standards and minimizing fraud throughout the supply chain. These revisions are a critical step for businesses involved in organic food production, handling, and distribution to ensure compliance and maintain consumer trust.
One of the most notable changes is the expanded definition of what constitutes “handling” organic products. Now, this includes not just processing or packaging but also trading, importing, and exporting, among other activities. This expansion means that a broader range of entities—including those involved in logistics or facilitating sales—may need to be certified under the USDA’s organic regulations.
The new rules also emphasize improved traceability. Certified organic operations must now maintain records that trace a product’s journey from acquisition through to production, sale, and transport, providing an audit trail back to the last certified operation. This is crucial for maintaining the integrity of organic products and preventing fraud.
The introduction of a formal definition of “organic fraud” as the misrepresentation of non-organic products as organic also sharpens the focus on authenticity in labeling and marketing. The USDA will enforce stricter supply chain audits based on risk, ensuring that fraud is identified and mitigated at every stage.
Companies involved in organic food production must be aware of these updated requirements and adjust their practices accordingly. Businesses that fail to comply risk damaging their reputation and potentially losing their organic certification. For more information reach out to a project manager at [email protected].
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