AB 1826 Summary

• Renames the California Organic Products Act of 2003 to the California Organic Food and Farming Act and expands its purposes to include coordination of federal and state organic program enforcement and support for organic agriculture through education and outreach.

• Shifts registration requirements from county agricultural commissioners to the Secretary of Food and Agriculture for producers and handlers of organic products, while maintaining State Public Health Officer registration for certain processed products.

• Revises the registration fee structure for organic producers and handlers based on gross sales, ranging from $25 to $3,000 annually, and increases the maximum annual registration fee for certification agencies from $250 to $500.

• Expands the California Organic Products Advisory Committee's duties to advise on education, outreach, and technical assistance for producers, and authorizes the Secretary to conduct complaint investigations, spot inspections, prohibited substance testing, and farmers' market inspections using collected fees and penalties.

• Exempts the adoption, amendment, or repeal of registration fees from the Administrative Procedure Act, requiring only filing with the Office of Administrative Law within 30 days.