California Department of Food and Agriculture Secretary A.G. Kawamura is announcing three listening sessions to discuss proposed regulations for the State Organic Program.

Listening sessions are open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the following days and locations:

• Feb. 9, 2010, California Department of Food and Agriculture, Main Auditorium, 1220 N Street, Sacramento, Calif., 95814

• Feb. 17, 2010, Monterey Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, 1428 Abbott Street, Ag Center Conference Room, Salinas, Calif., 93901

• March 3, 2010, Los Angeles Agricultural Commissioner’s Office, 11012 So Garfield Avenue, South Gate, Calif., 90280

The California Products Act was established in 1990. In 2003 the Act was abolished and the California Organic Products Act (COPA) of 2003 was established. This is found in the California Food and Agriculture Code, Title 3, Sections 46000-46029. Proposed additions to the California Code of Regulations will make specific procedures for registration, spot inspections, and sampling as authorized in COPA 2003. The additions will also incorporate by reference the National Organic Program regulations.

The proposed organic regulations can be found on the CDFA Web site at: http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/is/Regulations.html. If you would like additional information, or if you have any questions please contact David Carlson at (916) 445-2180 or dcarlson@cdfa.ca.gov.