A coalition of15 major players in the organic food industry—including producers, farmers, consumer, environmental and certification groups—filed a lawsuit in federal court alleging USDA violated the federal rulemaking process.
The group charges that USDA violated this process when it changed procedures for reviewing potential hazards and need for allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances used in producing organic food. The coalition asks the court to require USDA to reconsider this decision and bring back the government agency’s customary public hearing and comment process.