Risk-based Oversight for Integrity Act
Sponsored By: Senator McCormick, David [R-PA]
Introduced
Summary
A shift to risk-based oversight for the National Organic Program would refocus USDA inspections and certification toward higher‑risk problems while studying reforms like tiered certification and limited virtual inspections. The bill would add definitions, remove certain cross-references, and require a formal study and public report to guide possible regulatory changes.
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- Certified organic farms and handling operations: The bill would set U.S. locations to have on-site inspections at least once every 3 years and allow on-site or virtual checks between those years based on risk. Handling operations that acquire but do not physically receive product could use virtual inspection methods when they provide sufficient assurance of compliance.
- Certifying agents and regulators: Certifying agents would be required to perform annual inspections of each certified farm or handling operation on-site or as permitted under new regulations. The USDA could create multi-tiered certification, align oversight with operation size and risk, and aim to reduce costs for low-risk entities.
- Importers, foreign operations, and the public: Foreign locations would still require on-site inspections. The bill would mandate a study completed within 1 year, a public report within 18 months, stakeholder consultation, and at least a 90-day public comment period before new oversight rules are finalized.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.
Annual and Virtual Organic Inspections
If enacted, certifying agents would be required to provide annual inspections of every certified farm and handling operation. Inspections would be on-site, except the Secretary could allow limited virtual inspections under new rules. All inspections for operations outside the United States would stay on-site. For U.S. operations, there would be at least one on-site inspection every 3 years and intervening annual inspections could be on-site or virtual based on risk. Handling operations that buy but do not physically receive or store organic product could be inspected using virtual methods if those methods give enough assurance of compliance.
Risk-based organic oversight study and rules
If enacted, the Agriculture Secretary would complete a study within 1 year on using "risk to organic integrity" to guide oversight. The Secretary would consult the National Organic Standards Board, certifiers, farms, handlers, consumers, and others. The Secretary would send a report to Congress and post it online within 18 months. After the study, the Secretary would be allowed to write rules (with at least 90 days public comment) to change oversight protocols, including steps to lower costs for lower-risk entities and to prioritize checks on higher-risk activities.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McCormick, David [R-PA]
PA • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov