Many of the challenges organic producers and processors experience are caused by how organic standards compliance is monitored and enforced—in particular, the administrative procedures that are mandated to verify that operation practices meet organic certification requirements. In this policy analysis, we examine noncompliance documentation and verification by accredited certifiers under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Leveraging a novel and unique compilation of “Notice of Noncompliance” letters issued to organic producers and processors, we find a preponderance of administrative violations, relative to substantive ones. We discuss how the finding may help explain contemporary transformations in the organic market, as larger agri-food entities’ capacity to absorb the administrative costs that frustrate smaller operations may contribute to organic market “conventionalization” and consolidation.
This research examined violations in USDA organic food certification and found that most penalties were issued for paperwork and administrative errors rather than actual farming practices that violated organic standards. The findings reveal how complex bureaucratic requirements can create enforcement burdens that favor larger operations over smaller ones, since bigger companies can better afford the administrative costs of compliance. This demonstrates how regulatory enforcement systems can unintentionally reshape entire markets by making it harder for smaller players to navigate compliance requirements, even when they’re following the substantive rules.
(AI-generated summary, v1, January 2026)
Citations: 1 (as of January 2026)