USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) 

National Organic Program (NOP) 

NOP Update for the National Organic 

Standards Board (NOSB) – Part 2

Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D.

Deputy Administrator

National Organic Program

April 25, 2023
NOP Update in Learning Center! 

• Initiatives: TOPP, Human Capital 

• Rulemaking: SOE, OLPS, OOL, 

Inerts, Nitrogen, National List

• Accreditation & Audits

• India Oversight Initiative

• Compliance & Enforcement 

• Trademark Protection 

• Trade Systems 

• And More ... 

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Reminder on Rulemaking Process 

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Inerts ANPR OLPS SOE 

Implementation 

OOL 

Enforcement 

Nitrogen Rule

Market 

Development 
Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule 

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GOAL: Protect organic integrity and bolster 

consumer confidence in the USDA organic seal 

Reduce the number of 

uncertified entities

Strengthen recordkeeping 

and supply chain traceability

Strengthen oversight of 

accredited certifiers

Require use of electronic 

import certificates
Help Us Emphasize Need for Certification! 

Adopt organic 

practices, select 

certifier, apply

Application 

Review

On-Site 

Inspection

Full Review for 

Compliance

Certification 

Approval or 

Denial

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

Start Soon to Complete Certification by March 19, 2024! 
Tracking Progress on NOSB Recommendations 

• NOP Updates for NOSB in Learning Center 

• NOSB Recommendation Indices: 

https://www.ams.usda.gov/sites/default/files/media/NOSBRecommendationsLibrary.pdf

• Memos to the NOSB: https://www.ams.usda.gov/rules-regulations/organic/nosb/memos-nosb

• OMB Regulatory Agenda (Spring/Fall) 

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Updates on Specific Topics 

• Inerts: Work Agenda Request 

• Technical Support for NOSB

• Organic Transition Initiative: 

• TOPP Program Update 

• Market Development: Upcoming Competitive Grant 

Request for Applications 

• Transitioning Farms: Coordination with NRCS & RMA 

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Compliance and Enforcement is Ongoing 

USDA: NOP & 

Office of Inspector 

General + Other Agencies

Customs and Border 

Protection (CBP)

Department of 

Justice (DOJ) 

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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 
Human Capital Initiative Resources 

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Organic Integrity From Farm to Table

Consumers Trust the Organic Label 

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