1999 Minnesota Statutes

     31.95 Organic certification. 

    Subdivision 1.    Designation.  The commissioner shall 
 designate one or more organizations made up of organic food 
 growers, manufacturers, or sellers, to certify organically grown 
 seeds, products, and food.  

    Subd. 2. Repealed by amendment, 1990 c 547 s 4 

    Subd. 3.    Certification requirement.  An organic 
 certification agency may not refuse services or certification to 
 a person: 

    (1) whose seeds, products, and food meet certification 
 requirements; and 

    (2) who has paid certification fees. 

    Subd. 3a.    Certification organizations.  (a) A 
 Minnesota grown organic product that is labeled "certified" must 
 be certified by a designated certification organization.  

    (b) A certified organic product sold in this state must be 
 certified by a designated certification organization or by a 
 certification organization approved by the commissioner.  Before 
 approving a certification organization, the commissioner must 
 seek the evaluation and recommendation of the Minnesota organic 
 advisory task force. 

    (c) The commissioner shall appoint a Minnesota organic 
 advisory task force to advise the commissioner on policies and 
 practices to improve organic agriculture in Minnesota.  The task 
 force shall consist of the following residents of the state: 

    (1) three farmers using organic agriculture methods; 

    (2) one organic food retailer or distributor; 

    (3) one representative of organic food certification 
 agencies; 

    (4) one organic food processor; 

    (5) one representative from the Minnesota extension 
 service; 

    (6) one representative from an environmental nonprofit 
 organization; 

    (7) two at-large members; and 

    (8) one representative from the agricultural utilization 
 research institute.  

 Terms, compensation, and removal of members are governed by 
 section 15.059, subdivision 6.  The task force must meet at 
 least twice each year and expires on June 30, 2003. 

    Subd. 4.    Rules.  The organic certification 
 organization may draft rules for submission to the commissioner 
 to adopt for implementation of the organically grown 
 certification program. 

    HIST: 1988 c 688 art 8 s 1; 1990 c 547 s 4; 1997 c 192 s 17; 
 1999 c 231 s 57