National Organic Program | Agricultural Marketing Service

EXPORTING ORGANIC PRODUCTS FROM THE U.S.

December 2016

Organic agriculture is a fast growing sector in U.S. agriculture, creating jobs, economic growth, and entrepreneurial opportunities. The 

National Organic Program (NOP), part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), establishes international organic import and 

export policies to facilitate trade and expand market opportunities for certified organic farms and businesses around the world. 

To create additional markets for certified organic farmers 

and businesses, USDA has facilitated trade partnerships with 

multiple foreign countries. Learn more about each partnership 

at: www.ams.usda.gov/NOPInternationalAgreements.

CANADA

Effective June 30, 2009: USDA organic products can be sold as 

organic in Canada. 

Terms of the Arrangement. To export organic products to 

Canada, certified operations must:

- Produce organic products without sodium nitrate or 

hydroponic/aeroponic methods.

- Produce non-ruminant organic livestock according to 

Canadian stocking rates.

- Ship organic products with documentation that attests, 

“Certified in compliance with the terms of the US-Canada 

Organic Equivalency Arrangement.” 

Labeling Requirements. Organic products must comply with 

Canada's labeling requirements, including its dual language 

(English & French) requirement. For packaged retail products, 

labels or stickers must state the name of the USDA-accredited 

certifier and may display the USDA organic seal and/or the 

Canada organic logo.

EUROPEAN UNION (EU)

Effective June 1, 2012: USDA organic products can be sold as 

organic in the EU. Products must be either produced or have 

had final processing or packaging occur in the U.S.

Terms of the Arrangement. To export products to European 

Union member countries, certified operations must:

- Meet additional specifications for wine.

- Ship organic products with an EU certificate of inspection, 

completed by a USDA-accredited certifier.

Labeling Requirements. Traded products must comply with EU 

labeling requirements. For packaged retail products, labels or 

stickers must identify the certifier code for the USDA-accredited 

certifier and may display the USDA organic seal and/or the EU 

organic logo.

JAPAN

Effective January 1, 2014: USDA organic plants, mushrooms, 

and plant-based processed products (such as grape juice or 

corn meal) can be sold as organic in Japan. Products must be 

either produced or have had final processing or packaging 

occur in the U.S.

Terms of the Arrangement. To export plants, mushrooms, and 

plant-based products to Japan, certified operations must:

- Ship products with an export certificate (TM-11), 

completed by a USDA-accredited certifier. Certifying agents 

must be on the approved list to issue the TM-11.

Labeling Requirements. Traded products must meet Japan's 

organic labeling requirements. For packaged retail products, 

labels or stickers must state the name of the USDA-accredited 

certifier and may display the USDA organic seal. The Japanese 

organic logo is required on plant and plant based products. A 

Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS)-certified importer must 

apply the seal, unless the certified USDA organic operation has 

a JAS-labeling contract with a JAS-certified importer. 

Other Products. Organic products not regulated by the JAS 

law—such as meat, dairy products, and alcoholic beverages—

may also be exported to Japan. These USDA organic certified 

products do not require an export certificate and may be 

labeled with the USDA organic seal, but may not display the 

Japanese organic seal.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA

Effective June 1, 2014: Processed food products certified to 

the USDA organic regulations can be sold as organic in Korea. 

Products must have had final processing occur in the U.S.

Terms of the Arrangement. To export products to the Republic 

of Korea, certified operations must:

- Produce “processed food products” as defined by the Korean 

Food Code (see www.ams.usda.gov/NOPTradeKorea).

- Produce products with at least 95 percent organic ingredients.

- Ship exports with documentation that states, “Certified 

in compliance with the terms of the US-Korea Organic 

Equivalency Arrangement.” 
U.S. operations must inform a USDA-accredited certifying agent 

that they wish to ship products to Korea, and ship exports with 

an NAQS import certificate, completed by that certifying agent.

Excluded Products. Non-processed agricultural products need 

to be certified directly by a Ministry of Agriculture, Food and 

Rural Affairs (MAFRA)-accredited certifier.

Labeling Requirements. Traded products must comply with 

Korea's organic labeling requirements and may display the 

USDA organic seal and/or the MAFRA organic seal.

SWITZERLAND

Effective July 10, 2015: Products certified to the USDA organic 

regulations can be sold as organic in Switzerland. Products 

must be either produced or have had final processing or 

packaging occur in the U.S.

Terms of the Arrangement. To export products under the 

partnership, certified operations must:

- Produce and label organic wine to the regulations of the 

importing country.

- Ship products with a Swiss import certificate (see forms 

tab), completed by a USDA-accredited certifying agent.

Labeling Requirements. Traded products must follow Swiss 

organic labeling requirements (see Legal Basis tab at the 

bottom of the page) and may display the USDA organic seal. 

The Swiss Government does not administer an organic seal.

TAIWAN

Effective March 18, 2009: USDA organic products produced in 

the U.S. or its territories can be sold as organic in Taiwan. 

Terms of the Arrangement. To export products under the 

partnership, certified operations must:

- Ship products with a TM-11 export certificate completed 

by a USDA-accredited certifier. Certifying agents must be on 

the approved list to issue the TM-11.

- Ship livestock and meat products with documentation that 

states: “Organic livestock products, accompanied by this 

certificate, were managed and produced without the use 

of systemic pain killers or analgesics, including the use of 

Lidocaine or Procaine.”

- Ship processed products and crops with documentation 

that states: "Organic agricultural products and organic 

processed products, accompanied by this certificate, were 

produced or processed using zero prohibited substances."

Labeling Requirements. For packaged retail products, labels or 

stickers must state the name of the USDA-accredited certifier 

and may use the USDA organic seal. 

OTHER INTERNATIONAL MARKETS

Many other countries accept USDA organic products without a 

specific trade partnership. www.globalorganictrade.com

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

In addition to organic requirements, traded agricultural 

products must meet all general or commodity-specific import 

requirements for the destination country. 

Labeling. Generally, products must meet labeling requirements 

in the destination country. 

Export Codes. For certain organic products, traders must use 

harmonized tariff schedule codes for tracking purposes.

http://bit.ly/organic-codes2

Grading. Exported agricultural commodities must often meet 

product size, grade, quality, and maturity requirements.

www.ams.usda.gov

Food Safety. Most countries require shipments to include 

specific permits and certificates to ensure the product is 

healthy and free from pests requiring quarantine. Such 

requirements vary by country. 

IDENTIFYING ORGANIC PRODUCTS

If an organic logo (see below) isn’t on the exterior of the 

shipping box, shippers should review the: 

- Document (e.g. bill of lading) detailing sales of organic 

goods and specifying terms of delivery.

- Commercial invoice representing a complete record of the 

business transaction.

- Any import/export certificate or attestations, as required 

(see above).

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIC LOGOS

United States Canada European Union

There is no Swiss

organic seal

Japan Korea Switzerland

EXPORTING ORGANIC PRODUCTS FROM THE U.S.