Soo Kim (202) 720-8998Soo.kim@ams.usda.gov
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2011—The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced today that it is reviewing the National Organic Program regulations (7 CFR part 205) concerning their impact on small businesses.
The review is being conducted under criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, whose provisions require that all Federal agencies review existing regulations that have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities and to determine whether the associated impact can be minimized.
In doing so, the AMS will consider the following: (1) The continued need for the regulations; (2) the nature of complaints or comments received from the public concerning the regulations; (3) the complexity of the regulations; (4) the extent to which the regulations overlap, duplicate, or conflict with other Federal rules, and, to the extent feasible, with State and local regulations; and (5) the length of time since the regulations have been evaluated or the degree to which technology, economic conditions, or other factors have changed in the area affected by the regulations. This review of the NOP regulations will help determine whether they should be continued (without change), amended, or rescinded to minimize the impacts on small entities.
“AMS is committed to mitigating undue burden on the entities we serve, which range from small to large producers and handlers,” said Rayne Pegg, AMS administrator. “As we periodically review our regulations we will consider these criteria to determine how the NOP standards should continue to be enforced.”
AMS invites the public to provide written comments, views, opinions, and other information specific to the impact of the NOP regulations on small businesses. Interested persons can send comments by visiting http://www.regulations.gov (reference document number AMS-NOP-11-0005; NOP-11-01), or by mailing written comments to Toni Strother, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, National Organic Program, USDA-AMS-NOP, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Room 2646-So., Ag Stop 0268, Washington, DC 20250. Comments must be received by April 26, 2011.
Authorized by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, the NOP oversees national standards for the production, handling, and labeling of organically produced agricultural products. The governing regulations were first published on Dec. 21, 2000, and became effective on Oct. 21, 2002.
For further information, contact Melissa Bailey, Ph.D., Director, Standards Division, National Organic Program, by telephone: (202) 720-3252 or electronic mail: Melissa.Bailey@usda.gov.
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