Stutzman leads effort on protections for organic farmers
November 06, 2013 | 04:48 PM
A bipartisan coalition of eight House members organized by Rep. Marlin Stutzman, R-Ind., has written farm bill conferees urging adoption of a provision in the Senate-passed bill related to protections for organic producers in proceedings with the Agriculture Department and opposing a House provision.
“Under existing law, when USDA takes enforcement action against a certified organic producer, the producer is granted the opportunity for an informal administrative appeal, which is then followed by an administrative hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ),” the coalition of House members wrote.
“Only then is there a final decision from USDA, which can be appealed in court. The Senate bill preserves the all-important right to an informal administrative appeal at the agency level in cases where USDA acts to suspend the organic certificate from a certified organic producer.”
The coalition also said that the House bill would “roll back other needed due process protections,” which would be a “significant step back from the protections that organic agricultural producers have today, with the potential to cripple business operations.”
“Under existing law, when USDA takes enforcement action against a certified organic producer, the producer is granted the opportunity for an informal administrative appeal, which is then followed by an administrative hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ),” the coalition of House members wrote.
“Only then is there a final decision from USDA, which can be appealed in court. The Senate bill preserves the all-important right to an informal administrative appeal at the agency level in cases where USDA acts to suspend the organic certificate from a certified organic producer.”
The coalition also said that the House bill would “roll back other needed due process protections,” which would be a “significant step back from the protections that organic agricultural producers have today, with the potential to cripple business operations.”
