Description
Book SynopsisRegulation by Proxy catalogues the intermediaries that are critical organic certification, including the National Organic Standards Board, accredited certifying agents, organic inspectors, the California State Organic Program, the Accredited Certifiers Association, the International Organic Inspectors Association, and material review organizations. Drawing on a range of evidence, from original data to the work of prominent food policy authors, Carter assesses each intermediary's contributions to organic standards development, administration, and enforcement. Carter's analysis shows that there are undeniable benefits to how organic food is regulated in the U.S., however, relying on an assortment of intermediaries requires multifaceted oversight for which the USDA may not always have sufficient tools or capacity to realize.
Trade ReviewThis multi-faced analysis of USDA Organic Food Certification is valuable reading for scholars and policy practitioners who seek to understand decentralized regulatory programs. Carter traces the development of this complex regulatory design, dissects the patchwork of non-governmental and private-sector intermediaries, analyses the perspectives of organic food producers, and assesses the overall program impact. One learns much from this highly readable book about organic food certification in the United States and gains insights about the strengths and limitations of “regulation by proxy.” -- Donald R. Matthews, prrofessor emeritus University of Washington
David Carter’s Regulation by Proxy is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the complex system of regulatory governance that administers USDA organic standards in the U.S. His account provides a comprehensive overview, historical background, and detailed analysis of key aspects of the system. This careful case study reveals deep truths about the decentralized nature of the U.S. regulatory system more generally. -- Timothy D. Lytton, Distinguished University Professor at Georgia State University and author of Outbreak: Foodborne Illness and the Struggle for Food Safety and Kosher: Private Regulation in the Age of Industrial Food
Table of ContentsChapter 1. Regulation by Proxy Chapter 2. A Framework for Examining Decentralized Regulation Chapter 3. Institutional Emergence and Evolution: The History of Organic Food Governance in the U.S. Chapter 4. Systems-Based Regulations and Rulemaking Counsel: USDA National Organic Standards and the NOSB Chapter 5. The Regulator: The National Organic Program Chapter 6. The Third-Party Administrators: Accredited Certification Agents Chapter 7. The Inspection Intermediaries: Organic Inspectors Chapter 8. A State-Level Enforcement Intermediary: The California State Organic Program Chapter 9. Coordinating and Information Intermediaries: Professional Associations and Materials Review Organizations Chapter 10. The Regulatory Targets: Certified Organic Producers Chapter 11. Appraising the Analysis: Institutional Design, Intermediaries, and USDA Organic Certification Chapter 12. Final Reflections: The Theoretical Implications of Regulation by Proxy
