Sec. 11.
(1) The department may engage in or conduct activities to regulate, promote, and assist the organic industry in the manner provided by law. The department has the authority to enter into reciprocity agreements with other states' departments of agriculture and the United States department of agriculture and may require certain conditions and records be met and maintained by certifying agents. The department may work with the organic advisory committee and national and state recognized certification groups and programs in formulating its policies, rules, and requirements.
(2) A person shall not sell, offer for sale, or represent an agricultural product to be an organic product unless the agricultural product has been certified. The organic product must be certified by a registered certifying agent.
(3) A person shall not certify an agricultural product as an organic product unless that person is registered with the department as a certifying agent.
(4) A handler that sells, offers for sale, or represents an agricultural product to be an organic product must register with the department.
History: 2000, Act 316, Eff. Oct. 1, 2001