The Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association and another Maine group have joined a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture, challenging the process behind a 2013 rule change in its organic certification program.
The New York Times reported that the lawsuit was filed by California-based Center for Food Safety in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The lawsuit argues that the USDA violated federal law when it changed how nonorganic substances are approved in the organic certification process without holding a public comment period.
MOFGA and the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association in Washington, Maine, have joined the lawsuit as plaintiffs, according to the Bangor Daily News.
Sources: The New York Times, Bangor Daily News
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