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Instruction 

Organic Certificates

1. Purpose and Scope

This instruction specifies which elements of an organic certificate are necessary to accurately 

demonstrate an operation’s organic status. It also clarifies that only one operation may be listed 

on the organic certificate. This instruction is directed at certifying agents, who must meet certain 

terms and conditions as part of their accreditation (see 7 CFR 205.501(a)(23)), and identifies 

additional best practices to support organic integrity. 

2. Background 

A farm or business’ organic certificate provides an auditable record of its certified organic status, 

allowing it to sell products as organic. As recommended by the National Organic Standards 

Board in 2007, each certificate is to include standardized terminology, a standard organic 

certificate format, and a clear reference to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic 

regulations. In 2023, the Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule (88 FR 3548) updated 

many sections of the organic regulations, including the requirements for granting certification, 

issuing a certificate of organic operation (organic certificate), and exemptions from certification.

3. Policy 

Producers and handlers that produce, handle, or process organic products must be certified 

organic. (See 7 CFR 205.100(a).) Exceptions to this rule are explained in § 205.101 of the 

regulations. 

Certifying agents must generate certificates of organic operation from the Organic Integrity 

Database in accordance with § 205.404(b). A certifying agent may issue its own addenda to the 

certificate of organic operation in accordance with § 205.404(c).

3.1 Elements of the organic certificate

Organic certificates should be issued in English and include the following: 

1. Certified operation’s name (all legal names) and address(es), including a physical address 

if the mailing or legal address is not the physical location of the operation; 

2. Certifying agent’s name, address, Web site, and phone number; 

3. Effective date (when the current or initial certifying agent first certified the operation to 

the USDA organic regulations); 

4. Issue date (when the certifying agent issued the organic certificate); 
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5. Anniversary date (when the certified operation must submit its annual update). Organic 

certificates cannot include expiration dates; 

6. Categories of organic operation (crops, wild crops, livestock, and handling/processing); 

7. Specific certified organic products covered by the organic certificate, allowing auditors 

and buyers to verify whether the operation is certified to produce or handle the product 

for sale (e.g., “hay” or “Uncle Perry’s Berry Organic Granola”);

8. Labeling category for each product certified under the handling/processing certification 

category (not required for products in the crops, wild crops, or livestock certification 

categories). Labeling categories: 100% Organic, Organic, Made with Organic (specified 

ingredients or food groups), and Livestock Feed (Organic or 100% Organic); 

9. The statement, “Certified to the USDA organic regulations, 7 CFR Part 205.” This 

differentiates USDA organic products from those certified to other organic standards; and 

10. The statement, “Once certified, a production or handling operation’s organic certification 

continues in effect until surrendered, suspended or revoked.” 

3.2 Only one operation per organic certificate

Certifying agents must identify only one “person” (typically a farm or business as defined in 7 

CFR 205.2) on the organic certificate; this “person” must be certified organic. Each certified 

organic operation must have its own organic certificate. 

3.3 Organic certificates are not transferrable

Certification and certificates issued to certified operations are not transferrable to new owners in 

cases of mergers, acquisitions, or other transfers of ownership.

3.4 Organic certificate should be updated at least annually

Certifying agents should issue a new organic certificate each year. A new certificate must be 

issued when any information specified on the certificate has changed. These updated certificates 

may be issued after reviewing the annual update or after the annual inspection is completed. 

3.5 Organic certificates cannot cover operations or land in transition to organic

Certifying agents cannot issue organic certificates to cover operations or land that is under 

transition to organic production. However, certifying agents can issue separate transitional 

certificates to cover land in transition to organic production. 

3.6 Organic certificates cannot cover operations before they are certified

The USDA organic regulations do not provide for precertification. Certifying agents cannot issue 

precertification documents to cover operations that are applying for certification. An organic 
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NOP 2603 Organic Certificates Rev03 Authorized Distribution: Public

certificate may only be issued once certification is attained, and the operation seeking 

certification meets all the requirements of the regulations.

4. References 

USDA Organic Regulations (7 CFR Part 205) 

7 CFR 205.2 Terms defined. 

• Organic Integrity Database. The National Organic Program's electronic, web-based 

reporting tool for the submission of data, completion of certificates of organic operation, 

and other information, or the tool's successors. 

7 CFR 205.100 What has to be certified. 

7 CFR 205.101 Exemptions from certification. 

7 CFR 205.404 Granting certification. 

Original Issue Date: August 13, 2010