Failure by USDA to Enforce Federal Organic Law Prompts Lawsuit

Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to protect industry stakeholders, farmers, businesses, and consumers from fraud. But a new lawsuit filed by US honey producers claims that regulators have skirted federal law by allowing imports, mostly from Brazil, that do not meet federal organic standards.

While US farmers are certified and inspected every year by certifiers accredited and audited by the USDA’s National Organic Program, the lawsuit, filed in US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington, claims that not only are US organic farmers being competitively injured, but cheap organic imports are making it virtually impossible for conventional honey producers to sell their honey.

The lawsuit contends the agency created foreign-only loopholes that mislead consumers and are pushing US beekeepers out of the market.