With the most organic acreage in the country — more than 2,000 certified operations, and 2007 product sales of more than $1.8 billion — California is critical to the success of the National Organic Program.
Yet, a recent audit of the NOP found that California's own organic plan has been operating without enforcement and compliance procedures — as required by federal regulators — since 2004.
“This reduces NOP's assurance that California … was producing organically labeled products that met NOP regulatory requirements,” stated the audit, released in March by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Office of the Inspector General.
California received the NOP's blessing to commence a state organic program in 2004, with the understanding that it would establish compliance and enforcement guidelines, and mirror the national program in scope and content. Much of that framework remains incomplete six years later. The state is now under orders to finish implementing the required procedures.
“We have submitted a draft document to the NOP to address those issues,” said Steve Lyle, spokesman for the California Department of Food and Agriculture. “We are working with the NOP to address the issues stated in the report.”
