"the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rules, set by the USDA, declared that importers-that's right, the firms that typically handle sales and logistics, not just the winemakers- also need to be certified organic in order for the wines to retain the label. According to a spokesperson from the USDA, the regulations are an effort to "better protect organic businesses and consumers" and "keep fraud out of the market.""
"Strengthening the veracity of organic labeling sounds like a win for those concerned with how their wines are made. But, more than a year after the change went into effect, several small importers of European wine describe a bureaucratic reality that borders on the absurd. Some say the rules feel more about forms and fees than any actual fraud prevention."
In March 2024, USDA rules require U.S. importers to hold organic certification for wines to retain organic labeling. The regulations aim to protect organic businesses and consumers and to prevent fraud. Wines arriving under uncertified importers may be admitted only as conventionally produced, must be re-exported, or face penalties including fines and suspension. Several small European wine importers report that compliance centers on forms and fees and creates bureaucratic burdens. Importers warn the rules can undermine organic labeling, reduce diversity in the marketplace, and jeopardize recent gains in the organic wine sector.
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