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National Organic Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for 

Accredited Certifying Agents and Certified Operations

Title Document Date

Manual del Programa Nacional Orgánico 

(NOP Handbook in Spanish)

9/16/2015

Introduction 1100 3/20/2024

2024 NOP Program Handbook Update 1100-4 3/20/2024

Section A. Standards Document Date

Processed Animal Manure in Organic Crop Production NOP 5006 7/22/2011

Reassessed Inert Ingredients | Notice to Petitioners NOP 5008 7/22/2011

Approval of Liquid Fertilizers for Use in Organic Production NOP 5012 7/22/2011

Certification of Organic Yeast NOP 5014 7/22/2011

Guidance: Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation | 

Response to Comments

NOP 5020 1/15/2016

Compost and Vermicompost in Organic Crop Production | 

Response to Comments

NOP 5021 7/22/2011

Wild Crop Harvesting | Response to Comments NOP 5022 7/22/2011

Guidance: Substances Used in Post-Harvest Handling of 

Organic Products | Response to Comments

NOP 5023 1/15/2016

Commingling and Contamination Prevention in Organic 

Production and Handling | Response to Comments

NOP 5025 7/22/2011

The Use of Chlorine Materials in Organic Production & 

Handling | Response to Comments

NOP 5026 3/20/2024

The Use of Kelp in Organic Livestock Feed | Response to 

Comments

NOP 5027,

NOP 5027-1

2/28/2013

Seeds, Annual Seedlings, and Planting Stock in Organic Crop 

Production | Response to Comments

NOP 5029,

NOP 5029-1

2/28/2013

Evaluating Allowed Ingredients and Sources of Vitamins and 

Minerals For Organic Livestock Feed | Response to 

Comments

NOP 5030,

NOP 5030-1 

2/28/2013

Products in the “Made With Organic ***” Labeling Category | 

Response to Comments | “Made With” Organic Labeling 

Examples

NOP 5032,

NOP 5032-1 

5/2/2014
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Section A. Standards Document Date

Classification of Materials | Decision Tree for Classification 

of Materials as Synthetic or Non-Synthetic | Decision Tree 

for Classification of Agricultural and Non-Agricultural 

Materials for Organic Livestock Production or Handling | 

Response to Comments

NOP 5033,

NOP 5033-1, 

NOP 5033-2 

NOP 5033-3 

12/2/2016

Materials for Organic Crop Production | Materials for 

Organic Crop Production | Appendix of Prohibited Materials 

for Organic Crop Production | Response to Comments

NOP 5034,

NOP 5034-1, 

NOP 5034-2 

NOP 5034-3

12/2/2016

Section B. Certification Document Date

The Organic Certification Process NOP 2601 3/20/2024

Organic Certificates NOP 2603 3/20/2024

Responsibilities of Certified Operations Changing Accredited 

Certifying Agents 

NOP 2604 3/20/2024

Reinstating Suspended Organic Operations NOP 2605 3/20/2024

Processing Requests for Temporary Variances NOP 2606 11/20/2015

Unannounced Inspections NOP 2609 3/20/2024

Sampling Procedures for Residue Testing NOP 2610 3/20/2024

Laboratory Selection Criteria for Pesticide Residue Testing NOP 2611 11/8/2012

Prohibited Pesticides for NOP Residue Testing NOP 2611-1 7/22/2011

Responding to Results from Pesticide Residue Testing | 

Response to Comments

NOP 2613,

NOP 2613-1

3/20/2024

Technical Assistance NOP 2614 4/8/2013

Organic System Plans, Organic System Plan Updates,

and Notification of Changes

NOP 2615 3/20/2024

Organic Certification of Industrial Hemp Production NOP 2040 11/26/2019

Section C. Accreditation Document Date

Procedure – Peer Review of National Organic Program (NOP) 

Accreditation

NOP 1031 5/12/2016

General Accreditation Policies and Procedures NOP 2000 3/20/2024
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Section C. Accreditation Document Date

Certification File Review Checklist, Supplement for Grower 

Groups

NOP 2005-3 5/15/2013

Witness Audit Checklist for Grower Groups NOP 2005-5 8/25/2014

Separation of Duties in Certification Decisions NOP 2006 4/7/2014

Information Submission Requirements for Certifying Agents NOP 2024 3/20/2024

Annual Report Checklist (MS Word version) NOP 2024-1 3/20/2024

Internal Program Review Requirements NOP 2025 3/20/2024

Personnel Performance Evaluations NOP 2027 3/20/2024

Auditor Criteria NOP 2500 5/22/2017

Evaluating Auditor Performance NOP 2501 12/8/2015

Instruction – Responding to Noncompliances NOP 2608 1/13/2012

Material Review – Interim Instruction NOP 3012 8/30/2016

Section D. International Document Date

No content --- ---

Section E. Compliance and Enforcement Document Date

Enforcement of USDA Organic Regulations: Penalty Matrix NOP 4002 3/20/2024 

Who Needs to be Certified? | Questions and Answers NOP 4009 3/20/2024 

Use of Brand or Company Names Containing the Word 

“Organic”

NOP 4012 3/20/2024

Section F. Appeals Document Date

Adverse Action Appeal Process NOP 4011 3/20/2024

Section G. Policy Memos Document Date

Accredited Certifying Agent Inspection Authority PM 10-1 6/25/2010

Sulfur Dioxide in Wine "Made With" Organic Fruit PM 10-2 10/31/2011

Use of Natural Flavors PM 11-1 3/20/2024
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Section G. Policy Memos Document Date

Certification of Agricultural Products that Meet NOP 

Standards 

PM 11-2 10/31/2011

Labeling of Alcoholic Beverages PM 11-3 12/10/2012

Reporting Health and Safety Violations PM 11-6 10/31/2011

Private Label Certification PM 11-7 10/31/2011

California State Organic Program, Additional Requirements 

Granted

PM 11-8 6/9/2020

Grower Group Certification PM 11-10 10/31/2011

NOP Statements: Cloning and Organic Livestock Production PM 11-11 10/31/2011

Confinement of Poultry Flocks PM 11-12 4/3/2017

Clarification of Existing Regulations Regarding the Use of 

Genetically Modified Organisms in Organic Agriculture

PM 11-13 10/31/2011

Labeling of Textiles that Contain Organic Ingredients PM 11-14 10/31/2011

Production and Certification of Aquatic Plants PM 12-1 9/12/2012

Placement of Certified Organic By *** Statement PM 12-2 1/9/2013

Cell Fusion Techniques Used in Seed Production PM 13-1 2/1/2013

Humic Acid Extraction PM 13-2 12/16/2013

Synthetic Algicides, Disinfectants, and Sanitizers Allowed in 

Organic Crop Production

PM 13-3 6/6/2014

Aquatic Plant Extracts PM 14-1 3/12/2014

Chlorine Use in Egg Breaking Facilities PM 14-2 8/5/2014

Nanotechnology PM 15-2 3/24/2015

Impact of Fumigation and Irradiation Requirements on 

Organic Imports

PM 18-1 3/20/2024 

Impact of Prohibited Grain Seed Regulations on Organic 

Imports

PM 18-2 7/31/2018

Section H. Notices to Certifying Agents Document Date

Neotame Not Allowed in Organic Foods Notice 11-1 1/6/2011

Corn Steep Liquor Notice 11-3 1/31/2011
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Section H. Notices to Certifying Agents Document Date

Petitions for Inert Ingredients under the National Organic 

Program

Notice 11-6 2/3/2011

Sodium Nitrate Use in Organic Crop Production Notice 12-1 9/11/2012

Periodic Residue Testing of Organic Products N/A 2/28/2013

Organic Integrity Learning Center Launch N/A 5/2/2019

Certification of Organic Crop Container Systems N/A 6/3/2019

Organic Integrity Database – Transitional Operation 

Reporting

N/A 6/28/2023

Ion Exchange Filtration in Organic Production N/A 7/6/2023

Section I. Other Document Date

Archived NOP Documents Notice 11-4 3/20/2024

Noncompliance and Adverse Actions Flow Chart N/A 3/20/2024

Section J. Draft Guidance Document Date

Treated Lumber – Draft Guidance NOP 5036 8/31/2016