ORGANIC PRODUCT STANDARDS H.B. 5347 (H-2): FLOOR ANALYSIS
House Bill 5347 (Substitute H-2 as reported without amendment)
Sponsor: Representative John Stahl
House Committee: Agriculture
Senate Committee: Agriculture, Forestry and Tourism
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Michigan Organic Products Act to adopt by reference Federal standards for organic products in the State; and permit, rather than require, the adoption of equivalent or higher standards by rule.
Currently, the Director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture must adopt, by promulgation of administrative rules, standards that meet or exceed the standards for organic products of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agricultural marketing service or an equivalent national organic program. The bill would allow, rather than require, the Director to promulgate such rules.
The Act provides that until the rules take effect, the standards of the 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 by reference as interim standards.
The bill would remove those provisions and instead adopt by reference the standards contained in the National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205). (The National Organic Program is the Federal standard issued by the USDA for producers, processors, and sellers of organic products. The standard took effect in 2000 and includes specific prohibited and allowed substances in organic products; requirements for land use, handling, labeling, livestock care and living conditions; and other regulations that must be met for products to be certified as organic.)
MCL 286.921 Legislative Analyst: Curtis Walker
FISCAL IMPACT
The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.
Date Completed: 6-1-06 Fiscal Analyst: Bruce Baker
floor\hb5347 Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
Analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent. 5347/0506