G/TBT/N/USA/953
16 January 2015 
(15-0288)  Page: 1/2
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):    
2. Agency responsible: Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), Department of Agriculture 
(USDA) [971] 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
Please submit comments to: 
USA WTO TBT Inquiry Point Email: ncsci@nist.gov  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [   ], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [ X ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Organics production. 
Product and company certification. Conformity assessment (ICS: 03.120.20), Farming and forestry (ICS: 65.020) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: National Organic 
Program: Notice of Draft Guidance for Accredited Certifying Agents, Certified Operations and 
Applicants for Organic Certification. 
6. Description of content: The National Organic Program (NOP) is announcing the 
availability of a draft guidance document inte nded for use by accredited certifying agents 
and certified operations. The draft guidance document is entitled as follows: Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation for Certified Organic Operations (NOP 5020). This draft guidance document is intended to inform the public of NOP's current thinking on this 
topic. The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) invites organic producers, handlers, 
certifying agents, material evaluation progra ms, consumers and other interested parties to 
submit comments about these guidance provisions.  
A notice of availability of final guidance on this topic will be issued upon its final approval. 
Once finalized, this guidance document will be available from the NOP through, "The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs) and 
Certified Operations." This Handbook provides those who own, manage, or certify organic 
operations with guidance and instructions that can assist them in complying with the USDA organic regulations. The current addition of the Program Handbook is available online at: 
http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop  or in print upon request. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where applicable: 
Protection of the environment; Prevention of  deceptive practices and consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents:  79 Federal Register (FR) 78025, 29 December 2014. National 
Organic Program Handbook: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop  G/TBT/N/USA/953 
 
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  9. Proposed date of adoption:   To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force:   To be determined   
10. Final date for comments: 27 February 2015 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:   
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-12-29/html /2014-30303.htm  
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR -2014-12-29/pd f/2014-30303.pdf