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Regulatory text
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
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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.
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)
>> The Organic Guarantee System (page 52-62)
How to become certified
