USDA strengthens rules and enforcement to make sure organic products are really organic

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has reinforced oversight on organic certification and enforcement to prevent mislabeled products, in what advocates are calling the biggest update in decades.
New guidelines from the U.S. Department of Agriculture aim to crack down on organic fraud in an attempt to level the playing field for organic farmers and boost consumer confidence in organic products.

The rules strengthen certification and enforcement throughout the supply chain, closing loopholes that allow fraudsters to cash in on premiums in the nearly $60 billion organic industry.

In a statement, the Organic Trade Association said the new regulation “represents the biggest change to organic regulations since the creation of the USDA’s National Organic Program.”