CDFA and CalEPA Regulatory Alignment Study
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) worked with Crowe LLP 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), partnered 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. The final report maps out CDFA and State Water Board ag-related food safety and water quality reporting requirements with recommendations.
On this page
FINAL Regulatory Alignment Study Released in June 2026
CDFA released the final Regulatory Alignment Study in June 2026. The recommendations aim to meet the study's goals:
- Empower the agricultural community through clearer and more streamlined food safety and water quality regulatory administrative and reporting processes
- Support the state's data collection and information sharing efforts
- Strengthen environmental and public health outcomes
Regulatory Alignment Study Recommendations and Implementation Steps
Supporting Documents and Summaries
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.
DRAFT Final Recommendations and Implementation Steps Report
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
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 Concept Paper Executive Summary
- Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper Executive Summary - Hmong
- Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper Executive Summary - Spanish
- Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper Executive Summary - Traditional Chinese
- Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper
- Appendix A – Program Focus Area Graphs
- Appendix B – Selected Key Regulations Related to Data and Information Sharing
- Appendix C – Cross-Program Regulatory Pathways and Collaboration
- Appendix D – Acronyms and Abbreviations Glossary
Regulatory Alignment Study Milestones Achieved
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Information Session on May 18th, 2023.
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides
Read the full Press Release Listening sessions were conducted throughout 2023.
The listening sessions gathered interested parties and community input on experiences related to meeting food safety and water quality regulatory requirements.-
Study update released January 2024.
The Study update provides details on key milestones to date including the evaluation of regulatory requirements, an overview of the listening sessions, as well as next steps for the release of the Concept Paper and workshops for 2024.
Please read the full study update for more information.
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Regulatory Alignment Concept Paper Released May 2024.
Crowe released the 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. -
Informational Webinars on May 29, 2024 and May 30, 2024
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides
Read the Full Press Release -
Study update released October 2024.
The study update provides details on key milestones to date including an overview of the public workshops and a summary of input from members of the agricultural community, industry, interested parties, and regulators on the regulatory pathways outlined in the Concept Paper.
Please read the full study update for more information
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Study update released March 2025.
The study update provides details on key milestones to date including identification of program barriers, opportunities, process improvements, and related implementation actions. It also outlines Crowe’s next study milestones to identify and evaluate technological enhancements and present final solutions and implementation plans, with opportunities for additional public engagement and participation throughout Fall 2025.
Please read the full study update for more information
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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Produce Safety Program (PSP) Workshop Sessions on June 4, 2024 and July 11, 2024
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides -
Irrigated Lands Regulatory Program (ILRP) Workshop Sessions on June 12,2024 and July 16, 2024
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides -
Confined Animal Facilities (CAF) Program Workshop Sessions on June 20, 2024 and July 24,2024
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides -
State Winery Order (SWO) Workshop Sessions on June 26, 2024 and July 30, 2024
Watch the Recording
View the Presentation Slides
How to stay informed
- Updates will be posted to this page throughout the study.
- Questions, feedback, or comments can also be submitted to CDFA at RegulatoryAlignmentStudy@crowe.com