HB 2460 -
By Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
ADOPTED 03/03/2010
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 15.86.010 and 2002 c 220 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
The legislature recognizes a public benefit in:
(1) Establishing standards governing the labeling and advertising
of ((food)) agricultural products and ((agricultural)) commodities as
((organically produced)) organic products or transitional products;
(2) Providing certification under the ((federal organic food
production act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., and the rules
adopted thereunder)) national organic program for agricultural products
marketed and labeled using the term "organic" or a derivative of the
term "organic;"
(3) Providing access for Washington producers, processors, and
handlers to domestic and international markets for organic ((food))
products; ((and))
(4) Establishing a state organic program or obtaining federal
accreditation as a certifying agent under the ((federal organic food
production act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., and the rules
adopted thereunder)) national organic program; and
(5) Establishing a brand name materials list for registration of
inputs that comply with national, international, or other organic
standards.
Sec. 2 RCW 15.86.020 and 2002 c 220 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
((Unless the context clearly requires otherwise,)) The definitions
in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context
clearly requires otherwise.
(1) "Director" means the director of the department of agriculture
or the director's designee.
(2) "Organic ((food)) product" means any agricultural product, in
whole or in part, including meat, dairy, and beverage, that is marketed
using the term organic or any derivative of organic and that is
produced, handled, and processed in accordance with this chapter.
(3) "Producer" means any person or organization who or which grows,
raises, or produces an agricultural product.
(4) "Handler" means any person who sells, distributes, or packs
organic or transitional products.
(5) "Transitional ((food)) product" means any ((food)) agricultural
product that ((satisfies all of the)) meets requirements ((of)) for
organic ((food)) certification, except ((the time requirements as
defined in rule)) that the organic production areas have not been free
of prohibited substances for thirty-six months. Use of prohibited
substances must have ceased for at least twelve months prior to the
harvest of a transitional product.
(6) "Organic certifying agent" means any third-party certification
organization that is recognized by the director as being one which
imposes, for certification, standards consistent with this chapter.
(7) "Processor" means any person engaged in the canning, freezing,
drying, dehydrating, cooking, pressing, powdering, packaging, baking,
heating, mixing, grinding, churning, separating, extracting, cutting,
fermenting, eviscerating, preserving, jarring, or otherwise processing
of an organic ((food)) or transitional product.
(8) "Person" means any natural person, firm, partnership, exchange,
association, trustee, receiver, corporation, and any member, officer,
or employee thereof or assignee for the benefit of creditors.
(9) "Department" means the state department of agriculture.
(10) "Represent" means to hold out as or to advertise.
(11) "Sale" means selling, offering for sale, holding for sale,
preparing for sale, trading, bartering, offering a gift as an
inducement for sale of, and advertising for sale in any media.
(12) "Material" means any substance or mixture of substances that
is intended to be used in agricultural production, processing, or
handling.
(13) "Fertilizer" means a single or blended substance containing
one or more recognized plant nutrients which is used primarily for its
plant nutrient content and which is designed for use or claimed to have
value in promoting plant growth.
(14) "Label" means a display of written, printed, or graphic
material on the immediate container of an agricultural product or any
such material affixed to any agricultural product or affixed to a bulk
container containing an agricultural product, except for package liners
or a display of written, printed, or graphic material which contains
only information about the weight of the product.
(15) "Labeling" includes all written, printed, or graphic material
accompanying an agricultural product at any time or written, printed,
or graphic material about the agricultural product displayed at retail
stores about the product.
(16) "National organic program" means the program administered by
the United States department of agriculture pursuant to 7 C.F.R. Part
205, which implements the federal organic food production act of 1990
(7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq.).
(17) "Registrant" means the person registering a material on the
brand name materials list under the provisions of this chapter.
(18) "Certification" or "certified" means a determination
documented by a certificate of organic operation made by a certifying
agent that a production or handling operation is in compliance with the
national organic program or with international standards.
(19) "Compost" means the product of a managed process through which
microorganisms break down plant and animal materials into more
available forms suitable for application to the soil.
(20) "Crop production aid" means any substance, material,
structure, or device that is used to aid a producer of an agricultural
product except for fertilizers and pesticides.
(21) "Livestock production aid" means any substance, material,
structure, or device that is used to aid a producer in the production
of livestock such as parasiticides, medicines, and feed additives.
(22) "Organic waste-derived material" means grass clippings,
leaves, weeds, bark, plantings, prunings, and other vegetative wastes,
uncontaminated wood waste from logging and milling operations, food
wastes, food processing wastes, and materials derived from these wastes
through composting. "Organic waste-derived material" does not include
products that contain biosolids as defined in chapter 70.95J RCW.
(23) "Soil amendment" means any substance that is intended to
improve the physical characteristics of the soil, except for
fertilizers and pesticides.
(24) "Spray adjuvant" means any product intended to be used with a
pesticide as an aid to the application or to the effect of the
pesticide and that is in a package or container separate from the
pesticide. "Spray adjuvant" includes, but is not limited to, wetting
agents, spreading agents, deposit builders, adhesives, emulsifying
agents, deflocculating agents, and water modifiers or similar agent
with or without toxic properties of its own intended to be used with
any other pesticide as an aid to its application or to its effect.
"Spray adjuvant" does not include products that are only intended to
mark the location where a pesticide is applied.
(25) "Pesticide" means, but is not limited to:
(a) Any substance or mixture of substances intended to prevent,
destroy, control, repel, or mitigate any insect, rodent, nematode,
mollusk, fungus, weed, and any other form of plant or animal life or
virus, except a virus on or in a living human being or other animal,
which is normally considered to be a pest or which the director may
declare to be a pest;
(b) Any substance or mixture of substances intended to be used as
a plant regulator, defoliant, or desiccant;
(c) Any substance or mixture of substances intended to be used as
a spray adjuvant; and
(d) Any other substances intended for such use as may be named by
the director by rule.
(26) "Postharvest material" means any substance, material,
structure, or device that is used in the postharvest handling of
agricultural products.
(27) "Processing aid" means a substance that is added to a food:
(a) During processing, but is removed in some manner from the food
before it is packaged in its finished form;
(b) During processing, is converted into constituents normally
present in the food, and does not significantly increase the amount of
the constituents naturally found in the food; and
(c) For its technical or functional effect in the processing but is
present in the finished food at insignificant levels and does not have
any technical or functional effect in that food.
(28) "Manufacturer" means a person that compounds, produces,
granulates, mixes, blends, repackages, or otherwise alters the
composition of materials.
Sec. 3 RCW 15.86.030 and 2002 c 220 s 3 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) To be labeled, sold, or represented as an organic ((food))
product, a product ((shall)) must be produced under standards
established ((under RCW 15.86.060)) in this chapter or rules adopted
pursuant to this chapter. A producer, processor, or handler shall not
represent, sell, or offer for sale any ((food)) agricultural product
with the representation that the product is ((an)) organic ((food)) if
the producer, processor, or handler knows, or has reason to know, that
the ((food)) product has not been produced, processed, or handled in
accordance with standards established ((under RCW 15.86.060)) in this
chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(2) The department may conduct evaluations in retail establishments
to verify compliance with organic labeling and advertising requirements
of this chapter, rules adopted pursuant to this chapter, and the
national organic program.
Sec. 4 RCW 15.86.060 and 2002 c 220 s 4 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The director shall adopt rules, in conformity with chapter
34.05 RCW, as the director believes are appropriate for the adoption of
the national organic program ((under the federal organic food
production act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., and the rules
adopted thereunder)) and for the proper administration of this chapter.
(2)(a) The director shall issue orders to producers, processors, or
handlers whom ((he or she)) the director finds are violating ((any
provision of this chapter,)) RCW 15.86.030 or 15.86.090 or rules ((or
regulations)) adopted ((under)) pursuant to this chapter, to cease
their violations and desist from future violations.
(b) Whenever the director finds that a producer, processor, or
handler has committed a violation, the director shall impose on and
collect from the violator a civil fine not exceeding the total of ((the
following amounts)):
(((a))) (i) The state's estimated costs of investigating and taking
appropriate administrative and enforcement actions in respect to the
violation; and
(((b))) (ii) One thousand dollars.
(((3) The director may deny, suspend, or revoke a certification
provided for in this chapter if he or she determines that an applicant
or certified person has violated this chapter or rules adopted under
it.))
Sec. 5 RCW 15.86.065 and 2002 c 220 s 7 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The department is authorized to take such actions, conduct
proceedings, and enter orders as permitted or contemplated for a state
organic program or certifying agent under the ((federal organic food
production act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., and the rules
adopted thereunder)) national organic program.
(2) The director may deny, suspend, or revoke a certification
provided for in this chapter if the director determines that an
applicant or certified person has violated this chapter or rules
adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(3) The ((state organic)) program shall not be inconsistent with
the requirements of ((7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq. and the rules adopted
thereunder, including 7 C.F.R. Sec. 205.668)) the national organic
program.
(4) The department shall adopt rules necessary to implement this
section.
Sec. 6 RCW 15.86.070 and 2002 c 220 s 5 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) The director may adopt rules establishing a program for
certifying producers, processors, and handlers as meeting state,
national, or international standards for organic or transitional
((food)) products.
(2) The rules:
(a) May govern, but are not limited to governing:
(i) The number and scheduling of on-site visits, both announced and
unannounced, by certification personnel;
(ii) Recordkeeping requirements; and
(iii) The submission of product samples for chemical analysis((.
The rules)); and
(b) Shall include a fee schedule that will provide for the recovery
of the full cost of the ((organic food)) program.
(3) All fees collected under this ((section)) chapter shall be
deposited in an account within the agricultural local fund ((and)).
The revenue from such fees shall be used solely for carrying out the
provisions of this ((section)) chapter, and no appropriation is
required for disbursement from the fund.
(4) The director may employ such personnel as are necessary to
carry out the provisions of this ((section)) chapter.
(((2) The fees established under this section may be increased in
excess of the fiscal growth factor as provided in RCW 43.135.055 for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 2003.))
Sec. 7 RCW 15.86.090 and 2002 c 220 s 6 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1) It is unlawful for any person to sell, offer for sale, or
process any agricultural product within this state with an organic
label unless that person is certified under this chapter by the
department or a recognized organic certifying agent.
(2) Subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to:
(a) Final retailers of organic ((food)) products that do not
process organic ((food)) products; or
(b) Producers who sell no more than five thousand dollars annually
in value of agricultural products directly to consumers.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 8 A new section is added to chapter 15.86 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) To be labeled, sold, or represented as transitional products,
agricultural products must comply with transitional product standards
specified in this chapter and rules adopted pursuant to this chapter,
including no application of substances prohibited under the national
organic program within one year immediately preceding harvest.
(2) A producer, processor, or handler may not represent, sell, or
offer for sale any agricultural product as a transitional product if
the producer, processor, or handler knows or has reason to know that
the product does not comply with transitional product standards
specified in this chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter.
(3)(a) The department may set and collect transitional
certification fees, including fees for application for transitional
certification, renewal of transitional certification, inspections, and
sampling. Collected fees are subject to provisions specified in RCW
15.86.070.
(b) The fee for application for transitional certification is fifty
dollars per site in addition to any organic certification application
fees established under this chapter. The department may increase this
fee by rule as necessary to cover costs of provision of services.
(4) The department may conduct evaluations in retail establishments
to verify compliance with transitional labeling and advertising
requirements of this chapter, rules adopted pursuant to this chapter,
and the national organic program.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 9 A new section is added to chapter 15.86 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department may establish a brand name materials list of
registered materials that are approved for use in organic production,
processing, or handling in accordance with the national organic program
or international standards. Registration of a material on the brand
name materials list is voluntary. While registration is not required
for a material to be used or sold in this state, registration is
necessary for a material to be included on the brand name materials
list.
(2)(a) Manufacturers of materials may submit an application to the
department for registration of a material on the brand name materials
list. Applications must be made on a form designated by the
department, and must include:
(i) The name and address of the manufacturer;
(ii) The name and address of the manufacturer's representative
making the representations in the application;
(iii) The brand name that the material is sold under;
(iv) A copy of the labeling accompanying the material and a
statement of all claims to be made for it, including the directions and
precautions for use;
(v) The complete formula of the material, including the active and
inert ingredients;
(vi) A description of the manufacturing process, including all
materials used for the extraction and synthesis of the material, if
appropriate;
(vii) The intended uses of the product;
(viii) The source or supplier of all ingredients;
(ix) The required fee for registration or renewal; and
(x) Any additional information required by rule.
(b) If any change to the information provided in an application
occurs at any time after an application is submitted, the registrant
must immediately submit corrected information to the department for
review. Failure by the registrant to provide corrections to
information provided in the application may result in suspension or
revocation of the registration.
(c) By submitting an application for registration on the brand name
materials list, the applicant expressly consents to jurisdiction of the
state of Washington in all matters related to the registration.
(d) Applications for registration on the brand name materials list
are governed by chapter 34.05 RCW.
(3)(a) By applying for registration on the brand name materials
list, the registrant expressly grants to the department or other
organic certifying agent or inspection agent approved by the national
organic program the right to enter the registrant's premises during
normal business hours or at other reasonable times to:
(i) Inspect the portion of the premises where the material, inputs,
or ingredients are stored, produced, manufactured, packaged, or
labeled;
(ii) Inspect records related to the sales, storage, production,
manufacture, packaging, or labeling of the material, inputs, or
ingredients; and
(iii) Obtain samples of materials, inputs, and ingredients.
(b) Should the registrant refuse to allow inspection of the
premises or records or fail to provide samples, the registration on the
brand name materials list is cancelled. The department shall deny
applications for registration where the registrant refuses to allow the
inspection of the premises or records or fails to provide samples as
provided in this section.
(c) Required inspections may be conducted by department personnel,
by an organic certifying agent, or by another inspection agent approved
by the national organic program. The department may establish by rule
evaluation criteria for review of inspection reports conducted by an
organic certifying agent or inspection agent approved by the national
organic program.
(4) The director may adopt rules necessary to implement the brand
name materials list, including but not limited to:
(a) Fees related to registration;
(b) The number and scheduling of inspections, both announced and
unannounced;
(c) Recordkeeping requirements;
(d) Additional application requirements;
(e) Labeling of registered materials; and
(f) Chemical analysis of material samples.
(5)(a) The department may establish a brand name materials list to
register materials approved for use under:
(i) National organic program standards; or
(ii) International or additional organic standards.
(b) The director may review materials registered on the brand name
materials list as approved for use under the national organic program
for compliance with specific international or additional organic
standards as designated by rule. A registered material that complies
with a specific international or additional organic standard may also
be registered as approved under that standard.
(6) Registration of a material on the brand name materials list
under this chapter does not guarantee acceptance for use in organic
production or processing by organic certifying agents other than the
department. The department is not liable for any losses or damage that
occurs as a result of use of a material registered on the brand name
materials list.
(7) The director may deny, suspend, or revoke a registration on the
brand name materials list if the director determines that a registrant
has:
(a) Failed to meet the registration criteria established in this
chapter or rules adopted pursuant to this chapter; or
(b) Violated any other provision of this chapter or rules adopted
pursuant to this chapter.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 10 A new section is added to chapter 15.86 RCW
to read as follows:
(1) The department is authorized to set and collect fees for
application for registration, renewal of registration, inspections, and
sampling for the brand name materials list. Collected fees are subject
to provisions specified in RCW 15.86.070. The department may increase
by rule fees established in this section as necessary to cover costs of
provision of services.
(2)(a) The application fee for registration of a pesticide, spray
adjuvant, processing aid, livestock production aid, or postharvest
material is:
(i) Five hundred dollars per material for an initial registration;
and
(ii) Three hundred dollars per material for renewing a
registration.
(b) The application fee for registration of a fertilizer, soil
amendment, organic waste-derived material, compost, animal manure, or
crop production aid is:
(i) Four hundred dollars per material for an initial registration;
and
(ii) Two hundred dollars per material for renewing a registration.
(3)(a) Renewal applications postmarked after October 31st must
include, in addition to the renewal fee, a late fee of:
(i) One hundred dollars per material for applications postmarked
after October 31st;
(ii) Two hundred dollars per material for applications postmarked
after November 30th; and
(iii) Three hundred dollars per material for applications
postmarked after December 31st.
(b) Renewal applications received after February 2nd will not be
accepted, and applicants must reapply as new applicants.
(4) Inspections and any additional visit that must be arranged must
be billed at forty dollars per hour plus travel costs and mileage,
charged at the rate established by the office of financial management.
(5) Chemical analysis of material samples, if required for
registration or requested by the applicant, must be billed at a rate
established by the laboratory services division of the department of
agriculture or at cost for analyses performed by another laboratory.
(6) Requests for expedited reviews may be submitted and, if
approved, must be billed at forty dollars per hour.
(7) The department may assess compliance with an international or
additional organic standard for materials registered on the brand name
materials list as approved for use under the national organic program.
Requests for additional assessments of materials approved under the
national organic program must be billed at a rate of one hundred
dollars per product for each standard."
HB 2460 -
By Committee on Agriculture & Rural Economic Development
ADOPTED 03/03/2010
On page 1, line 1 of the title, after "products;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "amending RCW 15.86.010, 15.86.020, 15.86.030, 15.86.060, 15.86.065, 15.86.070, and 15.86.090; adding new sections to chapter 15.86 RCW; and prescribing penalties."
EFFECT: Revises definition of "transitional products" to provide that: (1) Transitional products meet organic certification requirements except that organic production areas have not been free of prohibited substances for 36 months; and (2) use of prohibited substances must have ceased for at least 12 months prior to harvest of transitional product. Makes several technical corrections, including correcting reference to RCW definition of "biosolids."