USDA Organic Regulations
Table of Contents
Linked to a copy of the "Final Rule" downloaded to www.mofga.org: 19 Jan 2002
The Latest USDA National Organic Program Organic Standards Regulations can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/
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Meaning of Words . 1
Terms Defined .1
What has to be certified .. 6
Exemptions and exclusions from certification .6
Use of the term "organic" ..7
Record keeping by certified operations .. 7
Allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and ingredients in organic production and handling .7
Subpart C - Organic Production and Handling Requirements
. . 8General .8
Organic Production and handling system plant .. 8
Land requirements .8
Soil fertility and crop nutrient management practice standards 8
Seeds and planting stock practice standard .9
Crop rotation practice standard ..9
Crop pest, weed, and disease management practice standard .. 10
Wild-crop harvesting practice standard ...10
Origin of livestock .10
Livestock feed .
Livestock health care practice standard 11
Livestock living conditions 12
Organic handling requirements .12
Facility pest management practice standard .12
Commingling and contact with prohibited substance prevention practice
standard .. .13
Temporary variances ..13
Subpart D Labels, Labeling, and Market Information
. . 13Use of the term "organic" 13
Product composition 14
Calculating the percentage of organically produced ingredients 14
Packaged products labeled "100 percent organic" or "organic" . 15
Packaged products labeled "made with organic (specified ingredients
or food group(s))" 15
Multi-ingredient packaged products with less than 70 percent
organically produced ingredients .16
Labeling of livestock feed .16
Labeling of non-retail containers used for only shipping or storage of
raw or processed agricultural products labeled as "100 percent organic,"
"organic," or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups(s)) .16
Agricultural products in other than packaged form at the point of
retail sale that are sold, labeled, or represented as "100 percent
organic" or "organic" 17
Agriculatural products in other than packaged form at the point of
retail sale that are sold, labeled, or represented as "made with
organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" . 17
Agricultural products produced on an exempt or excluded operation 17
USDA Seal 17
General requirements for certification ..18
Application for certification .18
Review of application .18
On-site inspection 19
Granting certification ..19
Denial of certification .20
Continuation of certification 21
Subpart F Accreditation of Certifying Agents
21Areas and duration of accreditation .21
General requirements for accreditation ...21
Applying for accreditation 23
Applicant information .23
Evidence of expertise and ability .24
Statement of agreement ..25
Granting accreditation 25
Denial of accreditation ..26
Site evaluations 26
Peer review panel .. 27
Annual report, record keeping, and renewal of accreditation 27
The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances 28
Evaluation criteria for allowed and prohibited substances, methods, and
ingredients
28Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production
. 28Non-synthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop
production
29Synthetic substances allowed for use in organice livestock
production
30Non-synthetic substances prohibited for use in livestock
production 31
Non-agricultural (non-organic) substances allowed as ingredients
in or on processed products labeled as "organic" or "made with
or organic (specified ingredients or food groups(s))" .. 31
Non-organically produced agricultural products allowed as
ingredients in or on processed products labeled as organic or
made with organic ingredients . 32
Amending the National List 33
. 33
Requirements of State organic programs . . 33
Submission and determination of proposed State organic programs
and amendments to approved State organic programs . .. 33
Review of approved State organic programs . . 33
Fees and other charges for accreditation .. 33
Payment of fees and other charges ..34
Fees and other charges for certification . 34
General ..35
Investigation of certified operations ..35
Non-compliance procedure for certified operations ..35
Mediation 36
Non-compliance procedure for certifying agents .. 36
Non-compliance procedures under State organic programs . 37
Inspecting and Testing, Reporting, and Exclusion from Sale
. 37Inspection and testing of agricultural product to be sold or
labeled "organic" .37
Exclusion from organic sale ..38
Emergency pest or disease treatment .38
General ..38
Appeals ..38
OMB control number 39
PARTS 206-209 [Reserved]* ...39