Home          
>>
 Legal notice  Contact  Sitemap  intranet
about us services news regulations IMO offices certified operations client portal
   Organic Production
         EU Organic Reg.
         NOP - US Organic Reg.
         Agricultural crops
         Smallholder groups
         Animal husbandry
         Wild collection
         Apiculture honey
         Viticulture wine
         Processing
         Export / import
         Legislation
         JAS - Japan Organic Reg.
         Smallholder certification
         Naturland
         Bio Suisse
         Private organic labels
         How to become certified
   Organic Trade
   Input Verification Program
   GLOBALG.A.P
   Utz certified
   Aquaculture / Fisheries
   Wild Collection
   Food Safety
   Social & Fair Trade
   Forest (FSC, PEFC)
   Textile
   Leather
   Cosmetic
   Traceability
   Expertise
   ConCert - Import Safety
   Online Training Platform
 

Regulatory text

>> Current legislation text
>> NOP Handbook
 

Short history

With its National Organic Program (NOP), the United States have regulated their organic market. The regulation came into effect October 21, 2002. Since then all produce marketed in the US as "organic", "100% organic" or "made with organic..." need to be certified according to the rule by a certification agency like IMO which is accredited by USDA, the US Department of Agriculture.
 
 

Scope / What needs to be certified

Any production or handling of crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products such as wild collected crops and apiary products (currently covered by the livestock requirements).
 

Labels

There are 4 different label categories:
  • 100% organic: 100% of all ingredients must be certified organic i.e. may normally not contain any allowed processing aids or auxiliaries (unless or organic agricultural origin). Allowed: water & salt.
  • Organic: Must contain not less than 95% NOP organic ingredients. The remaining 5% may be conventional agricultural ingredients listed on §205.606 if not commercially available in organic form (use of GMO, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge forbidden) or non-agricultural ingredients and processing aids as listed on §205.605
  •  Made with organic (specified ingredients or food groups): 70% of all ingredients need to be certified organic. The remaining 30% organic may also be conventional ingredients. No ingredients may be genetically modified or ionized or produced with using sewage sludge. 
  • Products with less than 70% organic ingredients: less than 70% of organic ingredients. The nonorganic ingredients may be produced and handled without regard to NOP. Such products are exempt from organic certification.
On the official NOP website you find the organic seal for download. There is also given an overview on what has to be displayed on the final product numbers.
 

Comparison with the Regulation (EEC) 2092/91

On the website of UNCTAD (United Nations Conference of Trade and Developement) you find a detailed comparison between the US NOP and the European Regulation (EEC) 2092/91:

>> The Organic Guarantee System (page 52-62)
 

How to become certified

>> Certification with IMO