California agrees to tighter organic oversight

"After a government audit outlined serious gaps in California’s oversight of organic products, the state department in charge of the program plans to be fully compliant with U.S. organic food rules by this fall.

Federal regulators, who gave the state until June 1 to address violations detailed in the audit, approved proposed corrective measures in May.

Enforcement of California’s organic standards “will be significantly enhanced” with the corrective measures in place, said Rick Jensen, chief of the inspection and compliance branch for the California Department of Food and Agriculture, on May 25. “It’s a welcomed improvement in uniformity and application of organic laws.”

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