What are the penalties for misusing the term “organic “?
Any operation that knowingly sells or labels a product as “organic” that is not in accordance with the Organic Foods Production Act and the National Standards may be subject to a civil penalty of up to $11,000 per violation. In addition, if an operation has been found to commit fraud under the organic label, they may lose their right to sell organic products for up to five years.Retail stores and restaurants, while excluded from the requirement of certification to handle and sell organic products, may voluntarily choose to be certified.
