Understanding the Organic Certification Process in Oklahoma
Hello, I’m Oklahoma City attorney Dillan Savage of Wirth Law Office, and I practice primarily in the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma area. Today we are going to be discussing what requirements you must meet in order to sell your produce, advertise your produce, and label your produce as 100% organic.
We will also discuss the basic punishment that you might see in the event that you violate Oklahoma law while publishing and advertising, selling, or labeling your produce as 100% organic. To sell, label, and advertise your produce as 100% organic, you need to comply with the Oklahoma Organic Food Act and the Organic Food Production Act of 1990.
Key Requirements for Organic Certification
I will briefly go over the fact sheet available on the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture’s website regarding the Oklahoma Organic Production Act. The Oklahoma Department of Agriculture must certify and inspect your produce to determine if it meets the requirements to be labeled, sold, or advertised as 100% organic.
To help you navigate this process, there are seven basic requirements you must meet. These requirements may include additional steps, but here are the main ones outlined in the fact sheet:
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- Completion of a producer or processor application form available on the website or a handling system plan.
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- A description of the practices and procedures to be performed and maintained.
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- A list of each substance used as a production or handling input indicating its composition, source, and location.
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- A description of monitoring practices and procedures to verify the effectiveness of the plan.
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- A description of record-keeping systems implemented to comply with requirements.
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- A description of practices or procedures to prevent co-mingling of organic and non-organic products.
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- Organic production practices verified by an on-site inspection and exit interview.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
There are many steps involved in this process, and it’s crucial to ensure everything is correctly executed. If you proceed in violation of these acts and laws, you may face administrative fines or even be found guilty of a misdemeanor, which can result in fines up to $1,000.
Such consequences are serious, and you definitely do not want to deal with legal complications. If you suspect that you may have made a mistake during this process, it’s advisable to reach out to an attorney experienced in these matters to ensure everything is resolved correctly.
Get Expert Legal Help Today
If you found this information helpful or believe it could aid someone else, please visit theoklahomacityattorney.com. I’m OKC business law attorney Dillan Savage, and I encourage you to contact me for a low-cost consultation at 405-888-5400.
