# Agriculture (GAG)

## Title 10. Promotion and Identification of Agricultural Products

### Subtitle 14. Organically Produced Commodities

#### Section 10-1401

The Department shall establish the Organic Certification Program governing the production and handling of organic agricultural commodities.

#### Section 10-1402

The Organic Certification Program established by the Department shall conform to the requirements of the federal Organic Food Production Act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., including implementing federal regulations and all subsequent amendments and revisions.

#### Section 10-1403

The Department may:

(1) Certify producers or handlers who apply for certification under the Department's organic certification program;

(2) Establish requirements governing the production or handling of commodities that are certified by the Department as organically produced;

(3) Adopt logos for organically produced commodities that are certified by the Department; and

(4) Deny, suspend, or revoke the logo or certification issued by the Department of any producer or handler who violates any regulations adopted under this subtitle.

#### Section 10-1404

(a) A person may not represent any uncertified commodity as certified under this subtitle.

(b) In addition to the denial, suspension, or revocation of a certificate issued under this subtitle, the Secretary may impose a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for a violation of this section.

(c) Each uncertified commodity represented as certified constitutes a separate violation of this section.

(d) Penalties collected by the Secretary under this section shall be paid into the General Fund of the State.

#### Section 10-1405

The Department may provide assistance in promoting organically produced commodities certified as provided in regulations adopted under this subtitle.

#### Section 10-1406

The Secretary shall set a reasonable fee to defray the cost of conducting field inspections and laboratory analysis as required by the United States Department of Agriculture's Organic Food Program for accredited certifying agents.

#### Section 10-1407

Except as provided by regulations adopted by the United States Department of Agriculture pursuant to the federal Organic Food Production Act, 7 U.S.C. Sec. 6501 et seq., the record custodian shall deny access to any business-related information concerning any person regulated under this subtitle.

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Md. Code Ann., Agric. (as displayed at mgaleg.maryland.gov, October 16, 2026)