Become an Organic Insider

The NOP Organic Insider is an email update service that informs the 

organic community on a wide range of National Organic Program 

functions.

Sign up at http://bit.ly/NOPOrganicInsider

National Organic Program

www.ams.usda.gov/nop | 202–720–3252

1400 Independence Avenue SW, Room 2648 | Washington, DC 20250

Organic integrity from farm to table, consumers trust the organic label.

What is Organic?

The NOP Organic Insider

USDA National Organic Program

What Do We Do?

Accredit certifying agents, who certify organic producers and handlers

Audit organic certifying agents to ensure they are prope rly implementing 

the USDA organic regulations

Work with certifying agents to ensure organic integrity of more than 30,000 

certified organic producers and handlers around the world

Investigate complaints and enforce the USDA organic regulations when 

violations are identified

Administer the USDA organic regulations (7 Code of Federal Regulations 

Part 205), developing and amending regulations and policies as needed

Support the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), a Federal Advisory 

Committee

Administer the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances, based 

on the NOSB’s recommendations Establish and monitor organic trade 

agreements with representatives of foreign governments

Oversee the Organic Certification Cost-Share Programs, which provide 

rebates to organic operations
 What Is Organic?

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other 

agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. 

These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices 

that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and 

conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, 

and genetic engineering may not be used. 

How Are Organic Products Overseen?

The National Organic Program regulates all organic crops, livestock, 

and agricultural products certified to the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA) organic standards. USDA also conducts oversight of 

organic certification, compliance and enforcement activities, and product 

labeling. In order to sell, label, or represent their products as organic, 

operations must follow all of the specifications set out by the USDA 

organic regulations. 

How Do I Know if My Food Is Organic?

Look at the label. If you see the USDA organic seal ( ), the product is 

certified organic and has 95 percent or more organic content. For multiingredient products such as bread or soup, if the label claims that it is 

made with specified organic ingredients, you can be confident that those 

specific ingredients have been certified organic. 

What About Other Labels?

Other voluntary labels for livestock products, e.g. meat and eggs, include: 

Free-range. This label indicates that the flock was provided shelter in a 

building, room, or area with unlimited access to food, fresh water, and 

continuous access to the outdoors during their production cycle. The 

outdoor area may or may not be fenced and/or covered with netting-like 

material. This label is regulated by the USDA.

Cage-free. This label indicates that the flock was able to freely roam a 

building, room, or enclosed area with unlimited access to food and fresh 

water during their production cycle. 

Natural. As required by USDA, meat, poultry, and egg products labeled as 

“natural” must be minimally processed and contain no artificial ingredients. 

However, the natural label does not include any standards regarding farm 

practices and only applies to processing of meat and egg products. There 

are no standards or regulations for the labeling of natural food products if 

they do not contain meat or eggs.

Grass-fed. Grass-fed animals receive a majority of their nutrients from 

grass throughout their life, while organic animals’ pasture diet may be 

supplemented with grain. Also USDA regulated, the grass-fed label does 

not limit the use of antibiotics, hormones, or pesticides. Meat products 

may be labeled as grass-fed organic.

Pasture-raised. Due to the number of variables involved in pasture-raised 

agricultural systems, the USDA has not developed a labeling policy for 

pasture-raised products. 

Humane. Multiple labeling programs make claims that animals were 

treated humanely during the production cycle, but the verification of these 

claims varies widely. These labeling programs are not regulated.

Agricultural Marketing Service | U.S. Department of Agriculture

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer 

September, 2011

Protecting Organic Integrity

30,000 on-site inspections per year by certifying agents to monitor 

compliance with USDA organic standards

Certifying agent audits to ensure appropriate monitoring

Residue testing program to verify that prohibited pesticides aren’t 

being applied to organic crops

Robust compliance and enforcement activities 

Issue-based investigations (e.g. country- or commodity-specific)