PREPROPOSAL STATEMENT OF INQUIRY
Subject of Possible Rule Making: The state Department of Agriculture is evaluating the organic certification requirements for organic and transition to organic food producers. The department is contemplating requiring producers to be certified as transition to organic producers prior to issuing an organic food producer certificate.
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: Members of the state Department of Agriculture's Organic Advisory Board have questioned whether there is adequate oversight and verification of producers during the transition from conventional farm production to organic farm production. The Organic Advisory Board is developing a proposal that would require conventional farms to be inspected and certified during the two year transitional period.
Other Federal and State Agencies that Regulate this Subject and the Process Coordinating the Rule with These Agencies: Over the next few years, the United States Department of Agriculture will be implementing a National Organic Program under the authority of the Organic Food Production Act. The state Department of Agriculture works with the USDA National Organic Program through the National Association of State Organic Programs and the National Organic Standards Board.
Process for Developing New Rule: The agency is developing the proposal in coordination with the Organic Advisory Board.
Interested parties can participate in the decision to adopt the new rule and formulation of the proposed rule before publication by contacting Washington State Department of Agriculture, Organic Food Program, P.O. Box 42560, Olympia, WA 98504-2560, phone (360) 902-1924, fax (360) 902-2087, e-mail mmcevoy@agr.wa.gov. Comments should be made by January 5, 2001.
November 9, 2000
Candace Jacobs
Assistant Director