USDA’s organic wine rule causes concern for importers

A new USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) rule is complicating the organic wine market, requiring not only foreign vineyards and wineries to be certified organic, but also importers themselves. The change, meant to enhance traceability and prevent fraud, has left many international producers scrambling to comply.

If an organic wine is imported by a non-certified wholesaler, it loses its organic status under USDA regulations. This means wines that were made under strict organic standards in Europe or New Zealand can’t be labelled as such in the US, causing confusion for consumers and potential revenue loss for producers.

Critics say the rule acts as a non-tariff barrier that unfairly benefits US producers by raising costs for foreign competition. Importers face long delays in the overwhelmed certification process, and many fear that without changes, the regulation will limit the availability of organic wines in the US market, driving up prices and hurting smaller importers most.