Risk-based Oversight for Integrity Act
Sponsored By: Representative Wied
Introduced
Summary
Risk-based oversight for organic integrity would refocus the National Organic Program to target inspections and enforcement where products are most likely to fail organic standards. It would update inspection rules and require a study to design risk-based oversight protocols and related reforms.
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- Farmers and handling operations: Requires annual on-site inspections for certified farms and handlers outside the United States. For U.S. farms and handlers it would require on-site inspections once every three years with intervening annual inspections done on-site or virtually based on the operation's assessed risk to organic integrity.
- Certifying agents and program rules: Adds formal definitions for "oversight protocols" and "risk to organic integrity" so certifying agents and the Department of Agriculture can apply differential enforcement and guidance tied to assessed risk.
- Study and possible rulemaking: Mandates a comprehensive study within 12 months and a public report within 18 months. After that the Secretary could issue regulations to adopt or modify risk-based protocols, including options to lower oversight costs for lower-risk entities and prioritize higher-risk activities.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
New inspection rules for organic farms
If enacted, the bill would change how often organic farms and handling operations are inspected. Foreign operations would need an on-site inspection every year. U.S. operations would get an on-site inspection once every three years, with yearly checks either on-site or virtual based on the Secretary’s determination of risk to organic integrity. A handling operation that only acquires organic products but does not receive, process, package, or store them would be inspected by methods, including virtual ones, if the Secretary says those methods give enough assurance. These inspection rules would take effect upon enactment.
Study of risk-based organic oversight
If enacted, the bill would add definitions for "oversight protocols" and "risk to organic integrity" effective on enactment. The Secretary would must conduct a study within 12 months on whether risk-based oversight and related reforms are appropriate. The study would examine differential treatment for risky versus non-risky noncompliance, standardized organic plans, multi-tier certification tied to risk and scale, and more. The Secretary would send a public report to the House and Senate Agriculture Committees no later than 18 months after enactment. After the report and consultation with those committees, the Secretary could issue rules to protect organic integrity, reduce oversight costs for lower-risk entities, or prioritize oversight of higher-risk activities. Nothing in the section would limit the Secretary’s enforcement authority.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Wied
WI • R
Cosponsors
Riley (NY)
NY • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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