National Organic Program

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== National Organic Program ==

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a regulatory program housed within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. The NOP is responsible for developing national standards for organically-produced agricultural products. These standards assure consumers that products with the USDA organic seal meet consistent, uniform standards.

History

The NOP was established as a result of the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA), which was part of the 1990 Farm Bill. The OFPA required the USDA to develop national standards for organic products and establish an organic certification program.

Standards

The NOP standards cover the production, handling, and labeling of organic agricultural products. Key areas include:

• Crop production
• Livestock production
• Handling
• Labeling

These standards prohibit the use of synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering. Organic livestock must be fed organic feed, have access to the outdoors, and cannot be given antibiotics or growth hormones.

Certification

To sell, label, or represent products as organic, operations must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. Certification involves:

• An application process
• An on-site inspection
• An annual review and inspection

Certified operations must maintain records to verify compliance with NOP standards.

Labeling

The NOP has specific labeling requirements for organic products. Products can be labeled as:

• "100% Organic" – must contain only organically produced ingredients.
• "Organic" – must contain at least 95% organically produced ingredients.
• "Made with Organic Ingredients" – must contain at least 70% organic ingredients.

Products with less than 70% organic ingredients can list specific organic ingredients on the information panel but cannot use the USDA organic seal.

Enforcement

The NOP enforces compliance through:

• Periodic inspections
• Investigations of complaints
• Enforcement actions, including suspension or revocation of certification

Related Programs

The NOP works in conjunction with other USDA programs, such as the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which advises the USDA on organic standards and the Organic Certification Cost Share Programs.

See Also

• Organic farming
• Sustainable agriculture
• Organic certification
• Organic Foods Production Act of 1990
• United States Department of Agriculture
• National Organic Standards Board

External Links

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