The US Department of Agriculture has suspended an organic food certification body from operating in China after an audit revealed inspectors were actually Chinese government employees.
The Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA), which is based in Nebraska, was responsible for certifying organic produce grown in China for shipment to the US.
The USDA announced on Monday that the body can apply for re-accreditation as a Chinese certifying authority after one year, but must hire inspectors with no government connections, The Packer has reported.
"It created a conflict of interest since the inspectors were also employees of the land owner," said Sam Jones-Ellard, spokesman for the National Organic Program.
Rayne Pegg, administrator of the USDA's agricultural marketing service, which is in charge of the organic programme, said it was critical the integrity of organic produce was not compromised in any way.
"All certifiers and operations, domestic or foreign, must be held to the same standards," Ms Pegg said.
The USDA relies on private organisations to verify organic products in foreign countries, and will still have nine certifiers in China, while the OCIA can still certify organic products in other countries, such as Canada and Mexico.
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