House Bill 652

AN ACT TO REVISE THE MISSISSIPPI ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE MISSISSIPPI DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND COMMERCE CERTIFY PRODUCERS AND PACKING FACILITIES UNDER THAT PROGRAM; TO PROVIDE FOR THE DESIGNATION OF OTHER PERSONS TO ACT AS CERTIFIERS UNDER THE PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY THE MEANING OF CERTAIN DEFINED TERMS; TO REPEAL SECTION 69-47-3, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE MISSISSIPPI ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-5, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE CERTAIN PRODUCERS TO BE ORGANICALLY CERTIFIED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF THIS LAW; TO REQUIRE DOCUMENTATION OF CERTIFICATION TO BE IN A FORMAT ACCEPTABLE UNDER THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY THE UNITED STATE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE'S NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (USDA-NOP); TO PROHIBIT THE CERTIFICATION OF CERTAIN FIELDS AS ORGANICALLY MANAGED UNLESS CERTAIN CONDITIONS ARE MET; TO REMOVE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO USE A CERTIFICATION RATING SYSTEM IN APPLICATION EVALUATIONS; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-7, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO PERMIT, RATHER THAN REQUIRE, THE DEPARTMENT TO SAMPLE CERTAIN ORGANIC COMMODITIES AND PROCESSED FOOD PRODUCTS; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-9, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE CERTIFIER TO CERTIFY A CROP AS ORGANIC; TO BRING FORWARD SECTION 69-47-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-13, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT COPIES OF QUESTIONNAIRES DEVISED BY THE CERTIFIER BE KEPT ON RECORD FOR FARMS AND PROCESSORS; TO REMOVE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT CONDUCT A MINIMUM OF ONE ON-SITE INSPECTION FOR EVERY FARM OR PROCESSING FACILITY; TO AUTHORIZE THE CERTIFIER TO CONDUCT UNANNOUNCED INSPECTIONS; TO REPEAL SECTION 69-47-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PRESCRIBES THE AUDIT REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MISSISSIPPI ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-17, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE THAT AN APPLICATION SUBMITTED FOR CERTIFICATION BE IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE STANDARDS PRESCRIBED BY THE USDA-NOP; TO REQUIRE THOSE APPLICATIONS TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE APPROPRIATE CERTIFIER; TO DELETE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE DEPARTMENT AUTHORIZE THE USE OF THE MISSISSIPPI CERTIFIED ORGANIC MARK UPON APPROVAL OF AN APPLICATION FORM; TO DELETE THE INSPECTION REQUIREMENT IMPOSED UPON APPLICANTS ENTITLED TO USE THE MARK; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-19, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE AUTHORITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO ALLOW A CERTIFIED RETAILER TO USE THE MARK; TO AMEND SECTIONS 69-47-21 AND 69-47-23, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY TO THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT; TO AMEND SECTION 69-47-27, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO DELETE THE PROHIBITION ON THE USE OF THE CERTIFIED ORGANIC MARK WITHOUT APPLICATION AND APPROVAL BY THE DEPARTMENT; TO REPEAL SECTION 69-47-33, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, WHICH PERMITS THE DEPARTMENT TO ESTABLISH AN ORGANIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM FOR POULTRY AND SEAFOOD; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Greg Ward

  Sponsor

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 3

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 13 – Jan 26

1. Jan 13Referred to the House committee on Agriculture
2. Jan 18Reported from committee in the House: title sufficient, do pass as a committee substitute
3. Jan 26Committee substitute adopted in the House
4. Passed the House

In the Senate Jan 28 – Mar 3

1. Jan 28Sent to the Senate
2. Referred to the Senate committee on Agriculture
3. Mar 1Reported from committee in the Senate: title sufficient, do pass as amended
4. Mar 3Amended in the Senate
5. Passed the Senate as amended

Back in the House of Representatives Mar 4 – Mar 28

1. Mar 4Returned to the House to concur in the Senate's amendments
2. Mar 8Declined in the House to concur, and invited a conference
3. Mar 10Conferees named in the House: Ward, Gardner and Sullivan
4. Mar 28Died on the calendar in the House