USDA Organic 201

A Closer Look at the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture’s Organic Regulations
Module Overview

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

 USDA’s role in organic regulation

 Certifiers and Operations

3. Organic System Plans

 Topics addressed in an organic system plan

4. Organic Standards

 Basic requirements for organic crops, livestock, and processing/handling

 Organic labeling requirements

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

 Reporting suspected violations to USDA

1
A Focus on...

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

3. Organic System Plans

4. Organic Standards

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

2
Review: The Meaning of Organic

This training module assumes an understanding of 

the concepts from a beginning module, Organic 101

• The organic label shows that a food or agricultural 

product has been produced using methods 

approved by the USDA

• Organic farmers use practices that support the

cycling of on-farm resources, promote 

ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity

• Organic farmers must not use prohibited 

synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, ionizing 

irradiation, or genetic engineering

3

Review of Organic 101
Review: Organic Certification

• The USDA accredits certifiers to review, inspect, and 

certify the practices of organic farms and processing 

facilities

• Organic farms and processing facilities that follow all 

USDA organic rules are called certified organic 

operations – often called producers and handlers 

• Producers and handlers may choose to work with any 

accredited certifier

• Certifiers may be private entities, states, or foreign

governments

• There are over 80 certifiers around the world, and 

most work in all 50 US states: visit www.ams.usda.gov

• The USDA oversees and monitors certifiers

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Review of Organic 101
Review: Organic Production

Organic production occurs on both a small and 

large scale, both in the U.S. and abroad

• There are certified organic operations in all 50 

states, as well as many foreign countries

‒ In 2014, there were more than 18,000 

certified operations in the U.S.

‒ There were more than 7,000 certified organic 

operations certified to the USDA organic 

regulations in foreign countries

‒ The USDA has organic trade arrangements 

with several countries

• The USDA maintains a list of certified organic 

operations that is searchable by name, location, 

or product: visit www.ams.usda.gov

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Review of Organic 101
A Focus on...

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

3. Organic System Plans

4. Organic Standards

5. Monitoring & Enforcement

6
The USDA Regulates the Organic Seal

USDA ensures the integrity of USDA organic products 

in the United States and throughout the world

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Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 
A Framework that Ensures Organic Integrity

There are three primary levels to the organic integrity framework. USDA’s National Organic Program establishes and enforces regulations, and 

accredits certifiers. 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.

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USDA AMS 

National Organic 

Program - NOP

(Establishes and enforces 

organic regulations)

National Organic 

Standards Board -

NOSB

(Advises USDA)

Certifiers

Private 

Organizations, 

States, and Foreign 

Governments 

Responsible for 

Certification and 

Enforcement

Certified Organic Operations

Farmers and Ranchers 

(Produce Crops, Wild Crops, 

and Livestock)

Processors and Handlers

(Process and Handle 

Organic Products) 

The USDA 

Agricultural Marketing Service’s 

National Organic Program 

Accredits Certifiers

Third-Party Agents 

Certify Operations

Certifiers, Operations, and the Public 

Provide Feedback to USDA and NOSB Retailers and Consumers

Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 
The Organic Law and Regulations

• Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990 

– Established the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) 

– Required consistent national standards for organically 

produced agricultural products

• USDA Organic Regulations

– Published in the Code of Federal Regulations 

– Include standards for production, handling/processing, 

labeling, certification, and accreditation

– Updated and maintained by the USDA

• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, National Organic 

Program (NOP)

– Develops and enforces the organic regulations

– Accredits and oversees certifiers, who certify and 

oversee organic operations

– Facilitates trade by supporting equivalency and 

recognition agreements with other countries

9

Access the organic 

regulations and other 

helpful information at: 

www.ams.usda.gov

Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 
The National Organic Standards Board

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is a citizen advisory 

board of volunteer farmers, handlers, a retailer, scientists, an 

environmentalist, consumer advocates, and a certifier. 

The Secretary of Agriculture appoints members of the NOSB, which: 

• Reviews substances that are proposed to be allowed or prohibited in 

organic agriculture 

• Advises the USDA on organic production and handling practice standards 

• Holds public meetings where it receives written and oral public 

comments, and votes on Committee proposals 

To learn more about the NOSB, visit www.ams.usda.gov

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Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 
Certifiers and Certified Operations 

Accredited certifiers

• Evaluate applications for certification from farming, ranching, processing, 

and handling operations

• Review Organic System Plans and conduct on-site inspections

• Approve the use of the organic label on agricultural products

• Enforce the USDA organic regulations

Farmers, Ranchers, Processors, and Handlers

• Apply to be certified as organic by providing records and an Organic 

System Plan to a USDA-accredited certifier

• Undergo annual inspections, and possibly unannounced inspections

• Produce and process agricultural products as described in their approved 

Organic System Plan; maintain and update the plan

• Appropriately label organic products for consumers and retailers

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Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 
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Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

ORGANIC FARMER PROFILE

• Nelson Grade Organics

• Pendleton, Oregon 

• 900 acres 

• Organic wheat, grains, and alfalfa

“There are always new 

problems coming at you, I kind 

of like to have solved those 

problems, I do enjoy that part 

of it and I think for the most 

part there are solutions to most 

of the hurdles that I encounter 

out there and so for now I’ll just 

keep looking for them.” 
A Focus on...

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

3. Organic System Plans

4. Organic Standards

5. Monitoring & Enforcement

13
The Organic System Plan

The Organic System Plan (OSP) is: 

• Written by the producer or handler who 

wants to become certified organic

• Reviewed by the certifiers and validated 

through annual inspections 

• Updated annually, and whenever changes in 

practices occur

• Designed to address all scopes of organic 

certification maintained by the operation, 

including:

– Crops

– Wild Crops

– Handling

– Livestock

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The USDA provides sample forms 

for Organic System Plans in its 

organic program handbook::

www.ams.usda.gov

See the Appendix for sample forms

Organic System Plans
Organic System Plan Contents 

• A description of practices and procedures 

to be performed and maintained, including the 

frequency with which they will be performed

• A list of substances used in production or 

handling, indicating their composition, source, 

and location(s) where they will be used

• A description of the monitoring practices 

used to ensure organic integrity

• A description of the recordkeeping system

• A description of the management practices

and physical barriers established to prevent 

commingling and/or contamination with nonorganic materials

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Organic System Plans
Updating the Organic System Plan

• Certified operations submit updated OSPs 

to certifiers for review at least annually

• Producers and handlers must update 

OSPs to reflect any planned changes to 

the operation, including the use of 

additional substances

• Producers and handlers should notify their 

certifiers and obtain approval before

making any changes that could affect 

certification

• Certifiers should receive an updated OSP 

before conducting the annual 

inspection of a certified operation

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Organic System Plans
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Organic System Plans

ORGANIC FARMER PROFILE

• Rosmann Family Farms

• Harlan, Iowa

• 700 acres

• Organic corn, popcorn, soybeans, small grains, 

alfalfa; cattle, hogs, chickens 

“When we see birds, then we 

know that we are doing things 

right; with wildlife and insects we 

have predator species, predatorprey relationships, and it’s sort of 

a balance.” 
A Focus on...

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

3. Organic System Plans

4. Organic Standards

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

18
The USDA Organic Regulations

• The USDA develops production standards 

for crops, wild crops, and livestock, as well as 

organic handling and food processing 

standards

• Standards can be found in the USDA organic 

regulations and the Agricultural Marketing 

Service’s Organic Program Handbook

– The Regulations are published in the 

Federal Register: Chapter 7 of the Code 

of Federal Regulations, Section 205

– The Program Handbook is published on 

the USDA’s website and contains 

guidance, instructions, and policy memos 

on topics such as compost and grazing

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Organic Standards
Requirements for Organic Crops

Crop farms must: 

• Maintain and implement an Organic System Plan

• Maintain distinct, defined boundaries and buffer zones to 

prevent prohibited substances from entering organic 

areas

• Not use prohibited substances, such as excluded 

fertilizers or pesticides

As long as the farm is certified, farmers:

• May NOT use prohibited substances, sewage sludge, 

irradiation, or genetic engineering

• MUST use organic seeds and organic seedlings (for 

annual crops), when commercially available

• MUST use preventative management of pests and weeds

• MUST implement tillage and cultivation practices that 

maintain or improve soil conditions and minimize erosion

• MAY use natural inputs and/or USDA-approved synthetic 

substances

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Organic Standards
Requirements for Livestock Operations

Livestock operations must:

• Maintain and implement an Organic System 

Plan

• Use 100% organic feed: Feed must not

contain antibiotics, growth hormones, 

slaughter byproducts, or genetic engineering

• Provide access to the outdoors and good 

living conditions year-round

• Maintain a pasture plan for grazing animals

• Not use antibiotics 

• Document the organic status of all animals 

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Learn More about Organic Grazing Rules: 

Pasture for Organic Ruminant Livestock

Organic Standards
Requirements for Different 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

• Must meet animal health and welfare standards

Breeding animals: Must be managed organically no 

later than the last third of gestation for the offspring to 

be considered organic

Dairy animals: Must be managed organically for one 

year before their milk may be considered organic

Poultry: Must be managed organically from the 

second day of life

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A ruminant is an animal 

with four stomachs. 

In organic agriculture, 

the primary ruminant 

animals are dairy and 

beef cattle, sheep, 

and goats

Organic Standards
Requirements for Wild Crop Operations

Wild Crops are any plant or portion of a plant collected or 

harvested from a site that is not cultivated or otherwise 

managed agriculturally.

Wild crop operations must: 

• Maintain and implement an Organic System Plan 

• Define the area from which crops are harvested

• Maintain or improve natural resources

• Use only sustainable harvesting practices

• Utilize only minimal agricultural practices, such as 

– Re-seeding from existing plants

– Removing non-native species

– Pruning

• Harvest crops in a way that does not damage the 

environment 

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Organic Standards
Requirements for Processors and Handlers

Handling and processing operations must:

• Maintain and implement an Organic System 

Plan

• Prevent the commingling of organic products 

with non-organic products, and contact with 

prohibited substances, during processing

• Prevent pests using only approved organic 

practices

• Use certified organic agricultural 

ingredients in organically-labeled products

• Use only approved label claims

• Not use irradiation or genetic engineering

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Organic Standards
Handler and Processor Certification 

Some food handlers are exempt from 

organic certification. These include: 

• Distributors who handle packaged or 

contained products and do not unpack 

or process the products

• Retail food establishments that do not 

process organic products

• Operations that handle only products 

with less than 70% organic ingredients

Even exempt operations MUST prevent 

commingling or contamination of organic 

products with non-organic materials

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Organic Standards
Labeling of Organic Processed Products

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• Only products with 95% or 

more organic content can use 

the USDA organic seal on their 

label

• Products with 70% or more 

organic content can be labeled 

“made with Organic”

• Products with less than 70% 

organic content may only state 

which ingredients are organic 

in the ingredient list

Organic Standards
Allowed and Prohibited Substances

In general, synthetic substances are prohibited in organic 

products unless specifically allowed. Non-synthetic 

substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited.

• The National List of Allowed and Prohibited 

Substances (National List) is part of the organic 

regulations. It identifies substances that may and may 

not be used in organic production and handling.

• The National List includes: 

– Synthetic substances which are allowed for use.

– Natural substances which are prohibited for use.

• 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, which then engages in 

rulemaking as appropriate. 

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Organic Standards
Excluded Methods

Organic products must be produced without the 

use of:

• Genetic Engineering: a variety of methods 

used to genetically modify organisms or 

influence their growth and development by 

means that are not possible under natural 

conditions or processes and are not considered 

compatible with organic production

• Ionizing radiation: as described in Food and 

Drug Administration regulation, 21 CFR 179.26

• Sewage sludge: a solid, semisolid, or liquid 

residue generated during the treatment of 

domestic sewage in a treatment works

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Organic Standards
ORGANIC FARMER PROFILE

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• Square Peg Farm

• Forest Grove, Oregon

• 40 acres (6-7 in vegetables)

• Diverse organic vegetables

“Because my family owns this 

land we feel pretty strongly that 

our job is to take care of it; when 

we are long gone all that is 

going to be left here is the soil 

and we want it to be better than 

when we found it. 
A Focus on...

1. Review of Organic 101

2. Organic Integrity: Governance and Certification 

3. Organic System Plans

4. Organic Standards

5. Monitoring and Enforcement

30
Enforcing Organic Regulations

• The USDA investigates reported or 

suspected violations of the organic 

regulations, often with the help of 

organic certifiers and State Organic 

Programs

• Anyone may report a suspected 

violation to the USDA: 

www.ams.usda.gov

• The USDA reviews every complaint 

that it receives about suspected 

violations of the organic regulations

• Certifiers conduct periodic residue 

testing of organic products to monitor 

compliance 

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Monitoring and Enforcement
Penalties for Noncompliance

Suspension or Revocation

• If an investigation shows that a certified 

operation has not followed the organic 

regulations, the operation’s certification may be 

suspended or revoked

• Suspended or revoked operations may not sell 

or represent their products as organic

• The USDA maintains a list of suspended and 

revoked operations on its website

Civil Penalties

• Willful violations of the regulations may result in 

civil penalties

• Civil penalties are fines of up to $11,000 per 

violation and may be levied against both 

certified and uncertified operations

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Monitoring and Enforcement
Monitoring Imported Organic Products

• The United States establishes and maintains 

equivalency and recognition agreements to 

facilitate organic trade

• Equivalence arrangements with the European 

Union, Japan, Korea and Canada allow organic 

operations certified to the USDA organic or foreign 

organic standards to be labeled and sold as organic 

in both areas

• The USDA monitors organic certification activities 

around the world through assessments of 

international certifiers and foreign government 

organic programs

• Requirements may vary, but all products certified as 

“organic” have been produced using clearly defined 

organic production methods

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Monitoring and Enforcement
Learn More: USDA Organic Resources

• USDA Organic Resource Guide 

– Provides information on USDA programs available to organic producers and 

handlers

» www.ams.usda.gov/organicinfo 

• USDA Agricultural Marketing Service Organic Web Resources

– Outreach materials and public information about organic regulations

– National List of Approved Substances and Petitioned Substances

– List of certifiers and certified operations

» www.ams.usda.gov

• Alternative Farming Systems Information Center at the National Agricultural Library

– Provides resources about sustainable food systems and practices

» afsic.nal.usda.gov/organic-production

• The USDA Organic Insider Newsletter 

– USDA’s regular e-mail service with updates and news on organic agriculture 

» http://bit.ly/NOPOrganicInsider

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Support for Organic Across USDA

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Organic agriculture is an important part 

of what we do at USDA. Each agency 

of USDA has a role in working with 

organic farmers and ranchers, and 

those who are considering organic. 

Thank you for taking the opportunity to 

learn this information, and for putting it 

to good use.