How does the proposed rule address the level of pesticide residues in organic foods?
We propose to establish a system of residue testing, as required by the OFPA, to enforce the regulations. We would require certifying agents to conduct periodic residue testing of organic products and to conduct an investigation of a certified farm when a pesticide residue found in an organic product produced by the certified farm exceeded a maximum level, which in most cases would be 5 percent of the established EPA tolerance for the pesticide residue. A product produced on a certified organic farm could not be sold as organic if the investigation showed that the residue was a result of an intentional application of a prohibited substance or was present at levels that exceeded the level of the pesticide caused by unavoidable residual environmental contamination. The unavoidable residual environmental contamination level will vary by geographic region, pesticide, and agricultural product tested. The organic label on a product certifies that it was produced according to a system of orga
