HB 652 Summary

• Removes the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce as the sole certifier of organic producers and allows USDA-approved certifiers to conduct organic certifications in the state.

• Requires organic certification documentation to comply with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards rather than state-specific requirements.

• Changes department sampling of organic commodities from mandatory to permissible, and authorizes certifiers to conduct unannounced inspections of certified producers and processors.

• Repeals sections authorizing the department to adopt enforcement rules for the organic certification program and to establish an organic certification program for poultry and seafood.

• Shifts application submissions from the state department to appropriate USDA-approved certifiers and aligns all certification requirements with federal NOP standards.