Sec. 18.002.  ORGANIC STANDARDS PROGRAM.  (a)  The department by rule may create and administer a program for the administration and enforcement of standards related to organic agricultural products, including certification of persons who produce, process, distribute, or handle organic agricultural products, and may regulate the use of "organic" and related terms.
(b)  Any program created by the department under Subsection (a) must be consistent with the provisions of the national organic program.
(c)  To the extent consistent with federal law, the department by rule may adopt standards related to organic agricultural products other than the standards established by the national organic program.
(d)  The department may enter into an agreement with the United States Department of Agriculture to act as an organic certifying agent or to provide primary enforcement of state and national standards relating to organic agricultural products.
(e)  In regulating organic agricultural products under this subchapter, the department may require certification, registration, or other documentation the department considers necessary:
(1)  to ensure the integrity of the state and national organic programs;
(2)  to ensure the marketability of organic agricultural products produced in this state;  and
(3)  to meet the authentication or verification requirements of the federal government, another state, or a foreign country relating to organic agricultural products.
Added by Acts 1993, 73rd Leg., ch. 650, Sec. 1, eff. Aug. 30, 1993.  Amended by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 425, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995;  Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1288, Sec. 2, eff. June 21, 2003.