USDA Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program An Overview

organic products throughout the world
Vision: Organic Integrity from Farm to

Table, Consumers Trust the Organic Label

Core Role: Implement the Organic Foods Production Act and the USDA organic regulations

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

| National Organic Program

certified organic operations in over 120 countries
21,600 in the United

States at end of 2015
Over $39 billion in U.S. organic sales

Staffing:
45 employees in three Divisions and the Office of the Deputy Administrator
Mostly based in Washington DC

Budget: FY 2012: $6.919 million FY 2013: $6.369 million FY 2014, 2015 and 2016: $9 million

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

and oversee third party organic certifying agents, who review, inspect,

and approve organic producers and handlers
Implement international organic trade agreements
Investigate complaints of violations (example: uncertified farmer selling food as organic, selling conventional food as organic)
Support the work of the National Organic Standards Board

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

Division

Accreditation
& International
Activities Division

Compliance &
Enforcement Division
National Organic
Standards Board
Rules, Guidance,

Instructions,
National List

Accreditation process
Technical outreach
International agreements

Complaints
Investigations
Initiate enforcement actions
Market surveillance

Communication
Administration

National List recommendations

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program

organic integrity framework. USDA’s National Organic Program establishes and enforces

regulations, and accredits certifying agents. Agent certify operations, which include farmers and ranchers as well as processors and handlers. These operations sell to retailers and consumers. Feedback comes to the USDA through public comment to the NOP and the National Organic Standards Board.

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

accordance with the USDA Regulation, to respond to site-specific conditions

by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve bio-diversity.

product from farm to table, including soil and water quality,

pest control, livestock practices, and rules for food additives.

Organic farms and processors:
Preserve natural resources and biodiversity
Maintain or improve soil organic matter and minimize soil erosion
Support animal health and welfare
Only use approved materials
Do not use genetically modified ingredients
Receive annual onsite inspections
Separate organic food from non-organic food

zones to prevent prohibited substances from impacting organic areas
MUST NOT

use prohibited substances, sewage sludge, irradiation, or genetic engineering
MUST use organic seeds and organic seedlings when commercially available
MUST document pest and weed management
MUST use practices that maintain or improve soil conditions and minimize erosion
MAY use natural inputs and/or USDA-approved synthetic substances

the outdoors and good living conditions year-round
Use 100% organic feed

Antibiotics, growth hormones, slaughter byproducts, and genetic engineering not allowed
Document the organic status of all animals
Ruminants must have access to pasture during the grazing season: 30% of the animal’s dry matter intake must come from pasture; grazing season must be at least 120 days

the commingling or contamination of organic products by non-organic products

during processing
Prevent pests using only approved practices
Use certified organic agricultural ingredients in organically-labeled products
Use only approved label claims
Not use irradiation or genetic engineering

Substances is part of the organic regulations.
The National List

includes synthetic substances which are allowed and natural substances which are prohibited.
The National List has separate sections for crops, livestock, and handling/food processing.
All substances are reviewed by the National Organic Standards Board. The Board makes recommendations on substances to the USDA.

clearance
Develop and maintain Regulatory Priorities Agenda
Draft new and updated

guidance and policy memos based on NOSB recommendations, Office of Inspector General findings, certifier and community questions, and priority needs
Develop materials to support rollout of new standards, respond to letters and questions about standards
Maintain National List, including petition intake and response, and list management activities
Support the National Organic Standards Board

30,000 certified organic operations.
audits,
audit report reviews,
notices of

noncompliance,
corrective action reviews,
responding to questions.

nations to facilitate the exchange of organic products and provide

market opportunities for organic producers.
Equivalency Agreements:
U.S.-Canada – Launched in 2009
U.S.-European Union – Launched in June 2012
Japan – Effective in January 2014
Korea - Effective July 2014
Switzerland – 2015
Recognition Agreements:
India, Israel, New Zealand

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2016 by

the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL) and IFOAM—Organics International:

Global sales of organic food reached $80 billion in 2014
US was the largest market at $35.9 billion
Germany was the second largest market, followed by France and China
There were more than 2.3 million organic producers from 172 countries
A total of 43.7 million hectares were organically managed
87 countries in the world had organic regulations

National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

operations to achieve compliance where possible and take enforcement actions

as appropriate
Represent the NOP in appeals of adverse actions
Work with certifiers, State Programs and Federal partners on enforcement of the OFPA and the USDA organic regulations
Lead enforcement-related policy development and outreach efforts

standards so as to facilitate commerce
Protect consumers
Ensure a fair

market for the great majority of organic operations that operate in compliance with the law

Topics” Website Postings
Fact Sheets, Questions and Answers
Briefings, Talking Points
Teleconferences

and Webinars with Organic Community
National Organic Standards Board Public Meetings
Conference Presentations and Listening Sessions
Certifying Agent/Body Training

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Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)
Assist in the development of standards

for substances to be used in organic production and advise USDA on other aspects of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA)
Meets twice annually - provides opportunity for public participation, both at meeting and in writing
NOSB has:
a charter with established mission and duties
a Designated Federal Official (DFO)
Subcommittees and Chair

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program

a 2/3 majority;
NOSB members must use specific criteria from OFPA

when considering the need for the substance and its impacts on human health and the environment;
Relatively stable – few things added, few things removed over the last five years;
The National List is not just comprised of synthetic materials
Natural nonagricultural ingredients
Agricultural ingredients that may not be commercially available in organic form

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program