Support for Continuous Improvement in Organic

April 30, 2021

PCC has publicly endorsed the Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards (CIAO) Act, developed by the Organic Trade Association in collaboration with members of congress.

The CIAO Act calls on USDA to create an action plan for clearing the backlog of National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) recommendations and a system of accountability and transparency for ensuring that future NOSB recommendations are prioritized. This is important because there has been a long history of the USDA stalling or delaying implementation of NOSB recommendations and rules. For example, the organic community and the NOSB have been pushing the USDA for 18 years now to implement rules crucial to the economic vitality of small organic dairies, known as the Origin of Livestock rule.

Read more about the CIAO Act here.

Related reading

Proposed rider amendment to the Organic Food Production Act

To Washington's 2 U.S. senators, Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and to Senator Patrick Leahy; re: proposed rider amendment to the Organic Food Production Act.

Support for USDA Relief Aid to BIPOC Farmers

PCC signed on to a letter from the Rural Coalition/Coalición Rural opposing a court restraining order that prevents the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from providing financial assistance to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) farmers.