ORGANIC AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS STANDARDS

House Bill 5347

Sponsor:  Rep. John Stahl

Committee:  Agriculture

Complete to 11-7-05

A SUMMARY OF HOUSE BILL 5347 AS INTRODUCED 10-20-05

The Michigan Organic Products Act provides the regulatory framework for ensuring the quality of organic agricultural products.  The act requires the director of the Department of Agriculture to promulgate rules adopting standards for organic products that meet or exceed standards established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Marketing Service.  The act further provides that, until the MDA adopts such standards, the international standards established by Organic Crop Improvement Association International, as revised February 1999, and the certification standards of the organic growers of Michigan, as revised March 7, 2000 and adopted May 28, 2000, are adopted as interim standards.

The bill would repeal the requirement that the MDA director adopt organic products standards, and would set the standards established by the Organic Crop Improvement Association and organic growers of Michigan as permanent, rather than interim, standards. 

MCL 286.907 et al. 

                                                                                        Legislative Analyst:   Mark Wolf

■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.