Executive Summary California leads the nation in organic farms, land in organic production, and organic sales. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, organic acreage has grown nation wide 46% from 2008 to 2014. California alone produced over $2.2 billion in organic agriculture in 2014. Accounting for more than 40% of the nation’s organic production.

IMPACT OF AB 1826 AND Organic Stakeholders Working Group Recommendations

Primary Changes to the Sate Organic Program Amends-Renames current “California Organic Products Act of 2003” to “California Organic Food and Farming Act of 2016” Add – (46002(c)) – Clarifies the Purpose of the SOP Amends 46003 – Changes Membership makeup of California Organic Products Advisory Committee Amends 46004.1 -Definitions:

Agricultural Commissioners, Secretary, State Public Health Officers (Ex Officio Members) 46003 COPAC COMMITTEE Adds (46003.25) -Offers COPAC Consultative Role In Program Functions And Activities Adds a seat on the committee for Accredited Certifying Agent

Registration and Late Fees Amends – Fees Based On Total Gross Sales (46013.1(e) And Consolidates And Eliminates Certain Fee Classifications And Renders Certain Operation Types Exempt From Registration And Fees Adds – Specifies That Fee Adoption And Regulations Are Exempt From APA Adds – Authorizes The Secretary To Pursue State And Federal Funds For Enactment Adds – Authorizes A Certification Agency To Remit Registration Fees On Behalf Of Their Clients

Registration –continued Amends - Require Registration With The Department Of Food And Agriculture For All Producers, Handlers, And Processors Not Registered With The California Dept. Of Public Health (46013.1) Removes - Registration Requirements For Retailers, Multi Ingredient Products, Commission Merchant Removes - Registration With California Agriculture Commissioners First

Registration - continued Deleted – Require Registrant To Provide Registration Copy To CAC (46013.1) Amends – To Be Completed On Form Identified By Secretary Delete – Commodity List Add - Categorical Products (46013.1(d)(1): Reported As Citrus, Fruit And Vegetable Row Crops, Livestock And Dairy, Stone Fruit, Tree Fruit, Tree Nuts, Other, Which Includes, But Is Not Limited To Organic Fallow Ground, Herbs And Mushrooms, Cut Flowers, Nursery, And Apiary

Registration - continued Form details changes Removes Reporting Requirement For The Following: Names And Registration Numbers Detailed Description & Dimension Of Facility, Farm For Exempt Producers; A Map Including Boundaries Adjacent Land Use Land Use History (Prior 36 Months)

Commodity List

Registration - continued Removes Reporting Requirement For The Following: All Substances Applied, Rate Of Applications And Total Applied Public Information Sheet Details (Name Of Registrant, Nature Of Business, Categorical Products), Shall Be Made Available Only Upon Request Gross Sales By Commodity And By Acreage

Registration - continued Adds – Total Gross Sales (in toto) Adds – (46014.1) – Authorizes A Certification Agency To Register And Submit Fees To SOP On Behalf Of Their Clients Amends – All Producers, Handlers Or Retailers Must Retain Records, As Required By The Secretary And COPAC (46028)

Registration – continued Deleted records retention Items: Quantity harvested from field and date of harvest Suppliers of livestock, fish or fowl Substances applied, soil, irrigation, post harvest procedures, and quantity of substances applied (including pesticides) All substances fed to animals

Registration - continued Deleted Records Retention Items: Transfer Of Title For Certification Pre Sale Transactions

Registration - continued Adds – (46014.1) – Certification agencies must make records accessible within 72 hours of a request by Secretary or CAC including: Records from applicants Records created by certifying agent Records kept per NOP regulation

Summary of Changes Replace California Organic Products Act of 2003 Adds and clarifies the role of the SOP Make available statistics, enforcement actions and activities through various media Reduce registration detail and some fee types Reduce available operation activities detail Consolidate and regroup commodity list

Summary of Changes Changes the registration process and procedure by bypassing the counties and requiring the state to process and approve all registrations Promote organic industry more directly Expend funds to provide training, education, outreach and guidance to the industry Promote Transition to Organic Create Research and Marketing promotion Pursue state and federal funds to assist in program functions and reimburse industry costs