Dive Brief:
- A group of grocers, seed growers, and consumer and environmental advocates is suing the USDA due to a policy change that has affected what products can be used when farming organic foods.
- The group's main issue is that the USDA did not seek public opinion from farmers before changing such a policy, which governs which items would be on a list of exceptions for organic farming use, and that the organization violated the federal rule-making procedure.
- According to The New York Times, "A material may not be removed without the votes of two-thirds of the board. Previously, two-thirds of the board was needed to keep a material on the list."
Dive Insight:
The FDA has proposed its own regulation that could "explicitly exempt direct-to-consumer farm sales from federal registration requirements," according to Food Manufacturing. Currently, those requirements include that food processing, packing, and storage facilities must register with the FDA. Retail food establishments, such as restaurants and farms, are exempt from these requirements. With this new regulation, roadside stands, farmers’ markets, and Community Supported Agriculture programs would also be exempt.