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HR 7406

Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act

119th Congress Introduced by Dan Newhouse

Allows organic producers to verify growing media absence of prohibited substances via certified testing, added guidelines, and a 3-year certification for wild crops.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture.
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Bill Summary · HR 7406

Meeting Demand for Organic Produce Act (H.R. 7406)

Purpose and intent

  • Introduces an option for organic producers to confirm the absence of prohibited substances in growing media (soil or other medium) by using testing or other certified methods.
  • Aims to strengthen verification of organic production standards while providing producers with an alternative verification pathway beyond existing standards.

Key provisions and changes

  1. National standards for organic production (amendment to Section 2105 of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990)

    • Revises pre-existing language to clarify the obligation framework for organic production.
    • New submittal language requires that organic production be produced in soil or growing medium that has been confirmed prior to planting to contain no prohibited substances, including synthetic chemicals, through testing or other methods certified by the Secretary to verify absence of prohibited substances.
    • Adds an explicit option for producers to use testing or other certified verification methods to demonstrate absence of prohibited substances in the growing medium before planting.
    • Changes in wording create a potential pathway for producers to meet organic standards via verification methods, in addition to any traditional organic qualification procedures.

  2. Guidelines and criteria for verification methods (new subsection)

    • The Secretary must, within 60 days after enactment, issue an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking to develop guidelines and criteria for approved verification methods described in the new subsection (a)(2)(B) to ensure accuracy and reliability of the testing/verifications.

  3. Management of wild crops (amendment to Section 2114(f))

    • Reorganizes existing text to add an explicit requirement related to verification of growing medium for wild crops.
    • Adds a certification element stating that the soil or growing medium in the area has been confirmed prior to planting to contain no prohibited substances (including synthetic chemicals), via testing or other methods certified by the Secretary.
    • Specifies that this certification applies to a 3-year period, extending current practice to include a formal multi-year certification component.
    • Requires an advanced notice of proposed rulemaking within 60 days of enactment to develop guidelines and criteria for approved verification methods applicable to this area (ensuring accuracy and reliability of the testing).

Affected parties

  • Organic producers and handlers who seek to certify products as organic under the Organic Foods Production Act.
  • Growers using soil or growing media who may opt to verify absence of prohibited substances through testing or certified methods.
  • The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Organic Program (NOP) as the Secretary’s office responsible for issuing guidelines and final rules.
  • Stakeholders involved in organic agriculture, including seed suppliers, soil amendment providers, and testing/certification entities.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Immediately upon enactment, the Secretary would need to issue advanced notices of proposed rulemaking within 60 days to establish guidelines and criteria for the approved verification methods described in the act.
  • The 60-day timeline applies to both:
    • Verification methods for growing media prior to planting (Section 2105(a)(2)(B)).
    • Verification methods for wild crop growing media (Section 2114(f)(1)(B)(ii)).
  • The bill was introduced February 5, 2026, and referred to the House Committee on Agriculture, with subsequent referral to the Subcommittee on Nutrition and Foreign Agriculture on March 20, 2026.

Summary assessment

  • The bill provides an alternative mechanism for proving organic integrity by allowing testing-based verification of growing media prior to planting, potentially improving confidence in absence of prohibited substances.
  • It introduces a structured regulatory process to develop guidelines and criteria for these verification methods, ensuring standards of accuracy and reliability.
  • It adds a multi-year certification dimension for wild crops, extending the verification requirement to a 3-year period.
  • Overall impact hinges on the implementation of the proposed guidelines and how verification methods are accepted in practice by organic producers, auditors, and the USDA.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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