(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.

Terms Used In Michigan Laws 286.911

  • Agricultural product: means any agricultural commodity or product, whether raw or processed, including any commodity or product derived from livestock that is marketed for human or livestock use or consumption. See Michigan Laws 286.903
  • certified: means a determination made by a registered certifying agent that an agricultural product has been produced and handled in compliance with the Michigan organic standards. See Michigan Laws 286.903
  • Certifying agent: means an entity registered by the department that certifies production or handling operations or portions of production or handling operations as meeting the Michigan organic standards. See Michigan Laws 286.903
  • Department: means the Michigan department of agriculture. See Michigan Laws 286.903
  • Handler: means any person engaged in the business of handling agricultural products as organic products including producers who handle crops or livestock of their own production. See Michigan Laws 286.905
  • Organic: means a labeling term referring to an agricultural product produced in accordance with the standards described in this act, rules adopted under this act, or both. See Michigan Laws 286.907
  • Organic advisory committee: means the committee created under section 25. See Michigan Laws 286.907
  • Organic product: means agricultural products including, but not limited to, crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are produced organically for human or livestock use or consumption. See Michigan Laws 286.907
  • Person: means an individual, group of individuals, contractor, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, cooperative, community supported agricultural entity, or any other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 286.907
  • state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, shall be construed to extend to and include the District of Columbia and the several territories belonging to the United States; and the words "United States" shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  • United States: shall be construed to include the district and territories. See Michigan Laws 8.3o
  (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.
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