Audit report faults Bush-Clinton era organic program for failure to enforce rules, prosecute confirmed misdeeds

After an extensive audit and investigation of alleged improprieties at the USDA’s National Organic Program, the agency’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) substantiated the allegations of prominent organic industry watchdog groups — that under the Bush administration, the USDA did an inadequate job of enforcing federal organic law.

Since 2002, when the USDA adopted the federal organic regulations, the agency has been plagued by underfunding and a number of complaints about lack of effective enforcement and oversight. of rules that govern how organic crops and livestock are raised, handled and processed.

“We are satisfied with the thoroughness of the investigation conducted by the USDA’s Inspector General,” said Mark Kastel, senior farm policy analyst at The Cornucopia Institute. The group is a strong supporter of organic farming but has been a frequent critic of the NOP. “And, we are pleased and impressed by the earnest response of the current management at the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), and its National Organic Program, in responding to the report’s critical findings.”

Full story: Cornucopia Institute

USDA’s OIG report