This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regularly review and update the standards for organic food certification. It directs the USDA to gather public input, get recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board, and revise the regulations accordingly every 5 years.
Latest Action
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture.
AI Summary
Plain-English explanation of this bill
This bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to regularly review and update the standards for organic food certification. It directs the USDA to gather public input, get recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board, and revise the regulations accordingly every 5 years.
Last updated: 12/29/2025
Official Summary
Congressional Research Service summary
<p><strong>Continuous Improvement and Accountability in Organic Standards Act or the CIAO Act</strong></p><p>This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to review and revise the organic certification standards at least every five years.</p><p>Specifically, USDA must </p><ul><li>solicit public input on which organic standards regulations should be prioritized for revision,</li><li>publish a list of proposed changes to the regulations that will be prioritized for revision,</li><li>obtain recommendations for each of the proposed changes from the National Organic Standards Board (a federal advisory board that considers and makes recommendations concerning the production, handling, and processing of organic products), and</li><li>revise the regulations accordingly.</li></ul><p>In implementing the recommended changes, USDA and the National Organic Standards Board must consider the best available information, including environmental and ecological data, consumer and market data, organic production and handling practices, organic research, and scientific data. </p><!--tinycomments|2.1|data:application/json;base64,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-->
Key Points
Main provisions of the bill
Mandates USDA to review and revise organic certification standards at least every 5 years
Requires USDA to solicit public input on which standards should be prioritized for revision
USDA must publish proposed changes and get recommendations from the National Organic Standards Board
Revisions must consider the best available information, including environmental, consumer, and scientific data
Aims to ensure organic standards keep pace with evolving practices and consumer needs
How This Impacts Americans
Potential effects on citizens and communities
This bill would impact organic food producers, processors, and consumers by ensuring the organic certification standards are regularly updated. It could lead to changes in allowed practices, labeling requirements, and other aspects of organic production to better reflect the latest research and market trends. Consumers of organic products would benefit from more up-to-date and relevant standards.
Policy Areas
Primary Policy Area
Agriculture and Food
Related Subjects
Administrative law and regulatory procedures
Agricultural practices and innovations
Department of Agriculture
Government information and archives
Public participation and lobbying
Scope & Jurisdiction
Jurisdiction Level
federal
Congressional Session
119th Congress
Citation Reference
5973, 119th Congress (2025). "Stop Excessive Force in Immigration Act of 2025". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-5973
