In the December 31, 2015, Federal Register,
USDA's AMS amended the current organic assessment exemption
regulations to allow persons that produce, handle, market, process,
manufacture, feed, or import "organic" and "100
percent organic" products to be exempt from paying assessments
associated with commodity promotion activities, including paid
advertising, conducted under a commodity promotion program
administered by the AMS, regardless of whether the person
requesting the exemption also produces, handles, markets,
processes, manufactures, feeds, or imports conventional or
nonorganic products. Currently, only persons who exclusively
produce and market products certified as 100 percent organic are
eligible for an exemption from assessments under commodity
promotion programs. Final rule is effective February
29, 2016.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
