COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2017
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES [Abstract]
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES In addition to the matters discussed below, from time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business in the USA and Brazil. These matters may relate to employment and labor claims, patent and intellectual property claims, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. When applicable, we record accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. While the outcome of lawsuits and other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of management, individually or in the aggregate, no such lawsuits are expected to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. Defense costs are expensed as incurred and are included in professional fees. Irgovel Litigation Irgovel is a defendant in several labor claims, mainly related to overtime, illnesses allegedly contracted at work and work-related injuries and salary related matters for periods prior to the acquisition of Irgovel by RiceBran. The labor suits are mainly in the lower courts, and for the majority of the cases a decision for the dismissal of the claims has been granted. None of these labor claims is individually significant. Management believes it’s unlikely there will be a judgment against Irgovel, however, in the event the court does issue a judgment against Irgovel, it could be approximately $1.1 million. Irgovel accrues for losses on tax and other legal contingencies when it has a present obligation, formalized or not, as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. Irgovel is a party to several other pending litigations and administrative proceedings at the Federal, State and Municipal level. The assessment of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome in these litigations and proceedings includes the analysis of the evidence available, the hierarchy of the applicable laws, available former court decisions, as well as the most recent court decisions and their importance to the Brazilian legal system, as well as the opinions of our external and in-house legal counsels. We record amounts considered sufficient by our management to cover probable losses based on these elements. In addition to the above items, Irgovel has a contingent liability of approximately $0.3 million for amounts claimed to be owed in connection with a loan agreement entered into in April 2007 between Irgovel and a former shareholder of Irgovel. In April 2014, the former shareholder filed an enforcement action against Irgovel to collect such amounts. In June 2014, Irgovel filed a motion to annul the enforcement proceedings. The enforcement proceedings were dismissed in September 2015. In May 2016, the court found in favor of the former shareholder to appeal the stay of execution that was previously granted. Irgovel - Events of Default As further described in Note 2, Irgovel is required to meet minimum annual processing targets or to achieve EBITDA on a local currency basis of at least R$4.0 million annually. If not achieved, this would result in an event of default under our existing agreements with the Investors. It is possible that an event of default may be triggered as of December 31, 2017, and a waiver of non-compliance may not be obtained from the Investors. Employment Contracts and Severance Payments We have employment contracts with certain officers and key management that include provisions for potential severance payments in the event of without-cause terminations or terminations under certain circumstances after a change in control. In addition, vesting of outstanding unvested equity grants held by these individuals would accelerate following a change in control.

NOTE 10. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

In addition to the matters discussed below, from time to time we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our business in the USA and Brazil. These matters may relate to employment and labor claims, patent and intellectual property claims, claims of alleged non-compliance with contract provisions and claims related to alleged violations of laws and regulations. When applicable, we record accruals for contingencies when it is probable that a liability will be incurred and the amount of loss can be reasonably estimated. While the outcome of lawsuits and other proceedings against us cannot be predicted with certainty, in the opinion of management, individually or in the aggregate, no such lawsuits are expected to have a material effect on our financial position or results of operations. Defense costs are expensed as incurred and are included in professional fees.

Irgovel Litigation

Irgovel is a defendant in several labor claims, mainly related to overtime, illnesses allegedly contracted at work and work-related injuries and salary related matters for periods prior to the acquisition of Irgovel by RiceBran. The labor suits are mainly in the lower courts, and for the majority of the cases a decision for the dismissal of the claims has been granted. None of these labor claims is individually significant. Management believes it’s unlikely there will be a judgment against Irgovel, however, in the event the court does issue a judgment against Irgovel, it could be approximately $1.1 million.

Irgovel accrues for losses on tax and other legal contingencies when it has a present obligation, formalized or not, as a result of a past event, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount of the obligation can be reliably estimated. Irgovel is a party to several other pending litigations and administrative proceedings at the Federal, State and Municipal level. The assessment of the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome in these litigations and proceedings includes the analysis of the evidence available, the hierarchy of the applicable laws, available former court decisions, as well as the most recent court decisions and their importance to the Brazilian legal system, as well as the opinions of our external and in-house legal counsels. We record amounts considered sufficient by our management to cover probable losses based on these elements.

In addition to the above items, Irgovel has a contingent liability of approximately $0.3 million for amounts claimed to be owed in connection with a loan agreement entered into in April 2007 between Irgovel and a former shareholder of Irgovel. In April 2014, the former shareholder filed an enforcement action against Irgovel to collect such amounts. In June 2014, Irgovel filed a motion to annul the enforcement proceedings. The enforcement proceedings were dismissed in September 2015. In May 2016, the court found in favor of the former shareholder to appeal the stay of execution that was previously granted.

Irgovel - Events of Default

As further described in Note 2, Irgovel is required to meet minimum annual processing targets or to achieve EBITDA on a local currency basis of at least R$4.0 million annually. If not achieved, this would result in an event of default under our existing agreements with the Investors. It is possible that an event of default may be triggered as of December 31, 2017, and a waiver of non-compliance may not be obtained from the Investors.

Employment Contracts and Severance Payments

We have employment contracts with certain officers and key management that include provisions for potential severance payments in the event of without-cause terminations or terminations under certain circumstances after a change in control. In addition, vesting of outstanding unvested equity grants held by these individuals would accelerate following a change in control.