CDFA and CalEPA Regulatory Alignment Study

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is working with Crowe LLP and their partner, Blankinship & Associates, (collectively, Crowe) to conduct a regulatory alignment study. CDFA, in collaboration with the California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) and State Water Resources Control Board (State Water Board), are working with Crowe to evaluate agriculture's food safety and water quality regulatory reporting requirements as part of an effort to streamline the administrative processes and optimize information collected by the state. As part of the process, Crowe will map current CDFA and State Water Board ag-related food safety and water quality reporting requirements and prepare a final report with recommendations. The study is projected to be completed by 2025.

DRAFT Final Recommendations and Implementation Steps Released in September 2025

Crowe prepared the Draft Final Recommendations and Implementation Steps outlining draft final recommendations for consideration by CDFA, CalEPA, Water Boards, and all interested parties. The draft final recommendations were informed by a broad range of interviews and feedback throughout the Study. The recommendations aim to meet the study’s goals to:

DRAFT Final Recommendations and Implementation Steps Report

 DRAFT Final Recommendations and Implementation Steps Report cover

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Public Comment
Feedback on the Draft Report may be sent via email to RegulatoryAlignmentStudy@crowe.com. Please submit all comments by 5:00 PM on October 15, 2025.

September 15, 2025, Informational Webinar on Draft Final Recommendations

Watch the Recording

View the Presentation Slides

Read the full Press Release

Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper Released May 2024

Crowe released the Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper (Concept Paper) and Concept Paper Executive Summary to provide Crowe’s initial proposed regulatory pathways (i.e., proposals) for consideration by CDFA, CalEPA, Water Boards, and all interested parties. The Concept Paper and Concept Paper Executive Summary represent a starting point for further feedback and do not reflect Crowe’s final recommendations, prioritization, or implementation plans. See documents below:

Regulatory Alignment Study Milestones Achieved

Program Workshops for 2024

Crowe invited all interested parties to review the Concept Paper and provide feedback through a series of webinars, workshops and written comments. The goal of the workshops was to gather feedback and comments that will help further define opportunities to streamline regulatory alignment for state policies and programs. Workshop slides and recordings are included below. The workshop recordings do not include any information shared from participants during the live workshop sessions.

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