PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: Chapter 16-160 WAC, Registration of materials for organic food production.
Statutes Authorizing the Agency to Adopt Rules on this Subject: Chapter 15.86 RCW.
Reasons Why Rules on this Subject may be Needed and What They Might Accomplish: The purpose of this rule change is three-fold: (1) Increase fees that were approved by the Washington state department of agriculture (WSDA) organic advisory board. Fee increases are needed to fund one full-time staff person for the material registration program. Recent growth in the program warrants additional staffing to provide customer service and respond to applicant requests in a timely manner; (2) revise the organic material registration logo. The logo for approved materials is similar to the logo for certified organic products. Confusion in the industry has led to incorrect use of the logo. Changing the logo for approved materials may reduce confusion; and (3) revise rule for clarity and consistency with chapter 16-157 WAC.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: None.
Process for Developing New Rule: The agency is developing the proposal in coordination with the WSDA organic advisory board. The organic advisory board meetings are open to the public.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Miles McEvoy, Organic Program Manager, Washington State Department of Agriculture, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, mmcevoy@agr.wa.gov, (360) 902-1924, fax (360) 902-2087.
April 30, 2007
Jerry Buendel
Assistant Director