Letter to Sonny Perdue, Secretary of Agriculture - Step Up Enforcement Of Inferior And Mislabeled Imported Goods

Letter

Dear Secretary Perdue:

I write to encourage the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to examine the evolving issue of organics fraud, which has the ability to harm both growers and consumers nationwide. I urge you to work in conjunction with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to issue a report that updates stakeholders on the steps USDA is taking to protect American farmers and consumers from non-organic products entering the United States and being sold as USDA-certified organic.

As you know, consumer demand for organic farming in New York and nationwide has been rapidly increasing over the last decade. According to New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (NYSDAM), the number of Certified Organic Farmers reported to NYS has grown from 392 in 2005 to over 1,050 in 2015. This critical new and evolving market for our growers and producers is currently being threatened by non-organic products being imported and sold to American consumers as USDA-certified organic. I strongly support the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and the continued use of accredited certifying agents and equivalency arrangements to facilitate the growing worldwide market for organic products, however, recent press reports detailing shipments of millions of pounds of non-organic corn and soybeans that were exported to the U.S. and sold illegally as organic are concerning. This fraud has the potential to erode confidence in the NOP and hurt our farmer's nationwide who have met the standards to become USDA certified organic.

I request that you work with the OIG to examine and issue a report on the steps USDA is taking to protect our nation's organic farmers and the consumers who value these products. Specifically, I ask that you report on a variety of different issues raised by stakeholders ranging from procedures for the reporting of bad actors between the USDA and foreign agencies, USDA information sharing and enforcement protocols for current and future NOP equivalency arrangements, Current USDA resource and staffing levels used to investigate and enforce NOP criteria for imports, as well as the USDA's current authority and resources available to take measures against suspected fraud from bad actors. Issuing a comprehensive report on these pressing issues as well as working with stakeholders to come up with new best practices will help ensure the continued success of the NOP for years to come.

I understand that in the current fiscal climate resources are constrained. However, based on the critical importance of the NOP to America's growers, producers, and consumers, I ask that you commit to working with the OIG on issuing this critical report as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer

United States Senator

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