Organic Imports Verification Act of 2025
The Organic Imports Verification Act of 2025 would expand federal oversight of imported organic feedstuffs shipped in bulk by requiring the Agriculture Department (via the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service) to systematically test for residues and to report on those tests to Congress. The bill creates a risk-based process to decide which imported organic feedstuffs are tested, establishes annual testing of those items, and requires corrective actions if test results show prohibited substances above permitted levels. A confidential, annually updated list would identify which imported feedstuffs are subject to testing. The act also mandates annual reporting to Congress within 180 days of enactment and each year thereafter, detailing testing frequency, methods, results, standards, and any actions taken. In short, the bill aims to strengthen verification of organic integrity for imported bulk feedstuffs by instituting regular residue testing, centralized risk-based decision making, and firm consequences for noncompliant shipments, with new reporting and confidentiality protections for the testing list.
Key Points
- 1Defines the scope: “covered organic feedstuff” means organic feedstuffs on the annual risk-based list that are shipped in bulk and have a national organic program import certificate; “shipped in bulk” excludes packaged shipments.
- 2Annual reporting to Congress: Not later than 180 days after enactment, and annually thereafter, the Secretary must report on residue testing conducted during the year for both covered feedstuffs and other bulk-imported organic feedstuffs with a national organic program import certificate, including testing frequency, methods, results, standards, and actions.
- 3Residue testing authorities: The required testing may be carried out under existing authorities in the Organic Foods Production Act and related regulations referenced in the bill (e.g., sections cited in the Act and 7 CFR rules).
- 4Risk-based protocol: The Secretary must work with the Secretary of Homeland Security and an interagency group to develop and continuously update protocols for (a) choosing which imported organic feedstuffs are on the testing list, and (b) specifying testing parameters (frequency, sample size, testing type, responsibility, and other necessary details).
- 5Annual testing and corrective action: Each year, the Secretary must test every covered feedstuff. If any test detects a prohibited substance above the permitted level, the shipment must be excluded from organic sale and cannot be sold or labeled as organic.
- 6Confidential testing list: The list of covered organic feedstuffs is to be maintained but not made publicly available.