Amends the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to regulate compostable agricultural packaging.
Establishes definitions for key terms related to compostable packaging, including “accreditation,” “compostable,” “consumer product,” and “labeling.”
Creates a system for recognizing accreditation bodies and accrediting third-party certification bodies to authorize compostable claims for consumer product packaging.
Requires the Director to establish a recognition system for accreditation bodies within 18 months and to act on applications within 120 days.
Prohibits the Secretary from collecting fees for the accreditation application process.
Mandates the publication of lists of recognized accreditation bodies and accredited third-party certification bodies on the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
Develops model accreditation criteria for compostable claims and labeling instructions, ensuring they are not false or misleading.
Excludes non-consumer product packaging from certain regulations while still subjecting it to other legal provisions.
Allows the Secretary to request records from recognized accreditation bodies and accredited third-party certification bodies to ensure compliance.
Defines misbranded packaging and outlines enforcement authority, specifying that the Secretary cannot recall products or impose criminal penalties for misbranding.
Establishes jurisdictional responsibilities between the Secretary and the Federal Trade Commission regarding compostable claims.
Preempts state laws that conflict with federal regulations on compostable claims.
Allows civil actions in U.S. District Court to address misbranding violations, with compliance dates set for January 1, 2028, or later if deemed necessary.
