Free Speech and Prohibited Messaging

The Limits to Promotional Activities for Federal Check-off Money

The suggestion that organic check-off funds will be used to promote organics is one of the biggest arguments the Organic Trade Association (OTA) is using in their attempt to convince the organic community that their check-off proposal is a good idea.

However, as experience with other commodity check-off programs has demonstrated, there are severe restrictions and requirements attached to any promotional messages. These include prohibitions on:

1. Promotions that disparage another agricultural commodity.
2. Any action that would be a conflict of interest.
3. Promotions which are not generic.
4. Using funds to influence governmental action or policy – NOSB or NOP.

For more on this please download the attached article:

Attached File:

• Prohibited Activities for Federal Check off funds 4115.docx

Posted: to Policy in the News on Thu, Jan 1, 2015
Updated: Thu, Jan 1, 2015