The Unity-based Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association is among 15 groups nationwide representing organic food producers, distributors and supporters that have filed suit against the federal government over rule changes involving government review of the use of non-organic and synthetic substances used to produce the foods.
Organic farmers and their advocates want a judge to overturn a new rule from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that changed oversight of the process of certifying that certain agricultural products qualify to be labeled “organic.”
In the suit, filed in Federal District Court for the Northern District of California, according to The New York Times, the group contends that the department violated procedures for federal rule-making when it failed to hold a public hearing or seek public comment when it changed the way nonorganic substances are approved for organic farming use.
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