Bill > HR5962

This bill, titled the Organic Standards Protection Act, amends the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to strengthen oversight of organic certification. It requires all individuals and entities involved in the organic certification program, including producers, handlers, and certifying agents (organizations that verify organic standards), to keep all related contracts, agreements, and other records for a specified period: five years for producers and handlers, and ten years for certifying agents. The bill also grants the Secretary of Agriculture (USDA) the authority to conduct investigations to ensure the accuracy of reported information and to determine if any violations of organic standards have occurred. Furthermore, it outlines unlawful acts, such as failing to provide accurate information or misrepresenting products as organic when they are not, and establishes enforcement mechanisms, including the ability to issue orders to stop the sale of non-compliant products and to revoke organic certifications or accreditations. These enforcement actions can be appealed through administrative processes and, if necessary, to federal courts, with penalties for non-compliance.