BILL ANALYSIS
AB 557
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 557 (Caballero)
As Introduced February 25, 2009
2/3 vote
AGRICULTURE 8-0 APPROPRIATIONS 16-0
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|Ayes:|Galgiani, Tom Berryhill, |Ayes:|De Leon, Nielsen, Ammiano, |
| |Conway, Fuller, Ma, | |Charles Calderon, Davis, |
| |Mendoza, Yamada, Bonnie | |Duvall, Krekorian, Hall, |
| |Lowenthal | |Harkey, Miller, John A. Perez, |
| | | |Price, Skinner, Solorio, Audra |
| | | |Strickland, Torlakson |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------------|
| | | | |
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 21, 2009) |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 24, 2009) |
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Original Committee Reference: AGRI.
SUMMARY : Adds, as a member of the California Organic Products Advisory
Committee (COPAC), a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
accredited certifier.
EXISTING LAW , under the California Organic Act (Act), creates COPAC,
comprised of 15 members and alternatives, for the purpose of advising
the Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture
(CDFA). Six members are to be producers, of which one must produce an
animal product; two are to be processors; one is to be a wholesale
distributor; two are to be environmental representatives; two are to be
technical representatives with scientific credentials; and, one is to be
a retail representative. The Act was updated in 2003 to conform to the
National Organic Program (NOP) and its title changed to the California
Organic Products Act of 2003.
EXISTING FEDERAL LAW, authorized in 1990, provides for the establishment
of regulations of food for humans, food for pets, livestock feed and raw
agricultural products when using, on a principal display panel (label),
the word "Organic." The enabling regulations for this act were
finalized and adopted in December 2001.
AB 557
Page 2
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Committee on Appropriations,
this bill has no significant additional state costs.
COMMENTS : The Act was created in 1990 for the purpose of protecting the
public from false and misleading organic labeling claims. The Act
provided for enforcement, a 14 member advisory board, prohibited
materials, inspections, penalties, certification process and
organizations, fees, and authorized regulations. The scope of the Act
was expanded in 1992 to include seed fiber, and horticultural products
sold or labeled as organic. In 2003, after the federal program known as
NOP was established that created the USDA accreditation process, the
California statute was amended to conform to NOP. At that time COPAC
was expanded to 15 members, adding the wholesale representative.
Certifiers have an integral involvement in Act and NOP, and their
representation on COPAC should enhance its advisory capacity to CDFA.
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
"At this time I see no need for a change in the composition of the
California Organic Products Advisory Committee."
Analysis Prepared by : Jim Collin / AGRI. / (916) 319-2084 FN:
0003266