OTA launches program to fight against fraud in organic products

The global market for organic products is growing steadily at nearly $ 90 billion and the US market alone is worth nearly $ 50 billion. Organic imports to the United States in 2017 totaled approximately $ 2.1 billion, up by almost 25% from the previous year. In recent years, however, investigations have revealed imported products that have been fraudulently labeled as organic products and some shortcomings in the supply chain.

 

 

 

 

 

OTA (Organic Trade Association) has announced the launch of its Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions program, to fight against fraud in organic products. Companies in the sector can now pre-register voluntarily for this program. This is neither a certification nor an audit. It is a quality assurance program designed to complement and strengthen the USDA's organic standards and the work of accredited certification bodies.

 

 

 

The goal of the program is to ensure the authenticity of organic products and to maintain and increase consumer confidence in the USDA Organic Seal.

 

 

 

To pre-register, a company must be a member of the Organic Trade Association and be certified organic or listed by an organization recognized by the USDA, such as the OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute). Eligible activities include farmers, traders, processors, distributors, traders, retailers and input manufacturers. There are also opportunities for accredited certifiers, consultants and advisers to join the program.