USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

National Organic Program (NOP) 

An Organic Update for the

Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

Jennifer Tucker, NOP Deputy Administrator 

April 19, 2023
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USDA Oversees the Organic Seal 

 Organic production emphasizes 

natural processes and ingredients 

 No genetic engineering allowed 

 Supports soil and water quality and 

biodiversity 

 Emphasizes physical, mechanical, and 

biological farming methods 

 Limited number of approved pesticides 

vetted through Federal Advisory Board 

 Rigorous certification process with 

residue testing and annual inspections

 Scopes of Certification: Crops, 

Livestock, Processed Products 

(Handling), Wild Crops 
The Organic Public-Private Partnership

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 3

U.S. Organic Sales in 2021: 

$63-billion 

USDA Certified Organic 

Farms and Business 

27,250 In United States 

45,600 Worldwide 
National Organic Program Goal Areas for 2023 

Grow and develop the 

organic sector through 

transition initiatives and 

technical assistance

Develop and implement 

organic standards

through open, transparent, 

collaborative processes

Protect organic integrity 

through strong oversight 

systems

Protect organic integrity 

through robust 

enforcement

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 4
Organic Transition Initiative 

Transition to Organic 

Partnership Program 

($100 M)

• Farmer-to-Farmer 

Mentoring 

• Technical Assistance 

• Community 

Development 

• Workforce 

Development 

• Data and Reporting 

Direct Support: 

Conservation and 

Crop Insurance ($100 M)

• Conservation Support 

for Transitioning 

Farmers (NRCS)

• Crop Insurance 

Assistance for 

Transitional Organic 

Growers (RMA)

Pinpointed Organic 

Market Development 

(Up to $100 M)

• Support Innovation by 

building organic 

supply chains in 

targeted markets 

• Request for 

Applications will open 

this Spring – will be a 

competitive grant 

program. 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service
Transition to Organic Partnership Program (TOPP) 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service 6
We Recently Updated the Organic Rules... 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 7

Strengthening Organic Enforcement Final Rule..... 

Protect organic integrity and bolster confidence in the organic seal 

Increase the number of 

certified entities to fill gaps

Strengthen recordkeeping 

and supply chain traceability

Strengthen oversight of 

accredited certifiers

Require use of electronic 

import certificates
Applicability and Exemptions from Certification

• Any operation that produces or handles organic 

products must be certified, unless they are exempt.

• Handle includes trade, export, import, or facilitate 

the sale or trade of an organic product. 

• Some supply chain intermediaries that currently do 

not require certification, such as traders, commodity 

brokers, or importers, must become certified.

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 8

The new rule expands the types of operations that must be 

certified, with only limited exemptions.

Our Request: Help us get the word out about certification! 
Imports to the U.S.: Electronic Import Certificates

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 9

Certifiers and 

operations must use the 

electronic NOP Import 

Certificate for organic 

products imported to 

the U.S. 

 The Import Certificate provides 

traceability to the port of entry 

and ensures an auditable record trail.

 Import certificates will be generated in 

NOP’s Organic Integrity Database and 

entered into CBP import system.
Implementation

All businesses must comply with the final rule 14 months after 

publication: March 19, 2024.

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If a Business Needs to Be Certified..... 

Adopt organic 

practices, select 

certifier, apply

Application 

Review

On-Site 

Inspection

Full Review for 

Compliance

Certification 

Approval or 

Denial

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 11

https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/becoming-certified

Start Soon to Complete Certification by March 19, 2024! 
Compliance and Enforcement is Ongoing 

USDA: NOP & 

Office of Inspector 

General + Other Agencies

Customs and Border 

Protection (CBP)

Department of 

Justice (DOJ) 

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program 12

Training and 

Outreach to Build 

Capabilities

Surveillance 

(Operations, 

Certifiers, Sectors, 

Countries)

Complaint 

Investigations & 

Resulting Actions

Certifier Directives, 

Testing and Related 

Actions

Loss of Certification 

(Suspension, 

Revocation) under 

NOP 

Legal Penalties 

Covered by 

Trademark 

Protections 

Significant 

Fees and Fines 

(Civil Penalties)

Prison Time 
USDA Agricultural Marketing Service | National Organic Program ‹#›

Organic Integrity From Farm to Table

Consumers Trust the Organic Label 

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