An Introduction to Organic Certification Requirements

Having trouble understanding the requirements for organic certification? If so, you’re not alone! This overview is intended to provide an understandable introduction to the National Organic Program regulation and certification requirements.

The National Organic Program Final Rule (NOP) was developed by the USDA to implement the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). The NOP is based on recommendations of the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB), which was appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture to provide advice to implement OFPA and to review substances allowed in organic production and handling.

The USDA issued the first proposed rule in December, 1997. That proposed set of standards would have allowed genetic engineering, irradiation, sewage sludge, antibiotics, re-feeding of animal by-products, and other practices long prohibited in organic agriculture. That proposal received 275,603 comments, and was withdrawn.

The second proposed rule was issued in March, 2000. It was much more consistent with existing organic standards than the first proposed rule. It received about 40,000 comments, and served as the basis for the “Final Rule”, issued in December 2000.

The Final Rule contains an extensive list of definitions, organic production and processing standards, and the “National List” of allowed synthetic and prohibited natural substances. It also contains labeling, certification, accreditation, enforcement, and testing requirements. The regulation went into effect on October 21, 2002. The text of the rule, along with policy statements, program updates, a list of accredited certifying agents, complaint procedures, and other related information can be found at http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop.

Under the regulation, any agricultural product can be produced using organic methods. The NOP covers all agricultural products labeled and sold as “organic” or “organically produced”. The rule covers organic vegetable growers, orchardists, livestock producers, ranchers, processors, and handlers. Parts of the regulation even apply to retailers.  As an organic operator, it is good for you to understand the requirements for other sectors, since these may affect parts of your operation. 

While the NOP regulation is relatively new, organic standards and certification have existed in the United States since the mid-1970’s, beginning with California Certified Organic Farmers, Oregon Tilth, the Organic Growers and Buyers Association (MN), and the Northeast Organic Farming Association (Northeast). As the markets for organic products grew, so did the number of organic certification agencies. Though the standards of the different agencies, and the states which defined “organic” through legislation, were similar, there were differences. These differences sometimes resulted in trade difficulties and disputes between regions over whose standards were more “organic”.

OFPA was passed by Congress in 1990 to begin the process of resolving the differences and establishing one set of national standards. Those standards are now in place. All certifiers who operate in the U.S., and all certifiers who certify products sold as “organic” in the U.S., must follow the NOP, and they must be accredited by the USDA to show that they have the competence and freedom from conflict of interest to certify organic products.

“Organic production” is defined by the regulation as “a production system that is managed … to respond to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”

In simplified terms, the National Organic Program standards require:

For crop farms

• 3 years (36 months prior to harvest) with no application of prohibited materials (no synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or GMOs) prior to certification;
• distinct, defined boundaries for the operation;
• proactive steps to prevent contamination from adjoining land uses;
• implementation of an Organic System Plan, with proactive fertility management systems; conservation measures; and environmentally sound manure, weed, disease, and pest management practices;
• monitoring of the operation’s management practices to assure compliance;
• use of natural inputs and/or approved synthetic substances on the National List, provided that proactive management practices are implemented prior to use of approved inputs;
• no use of prohibited substances;
• no use of genetically engineered organisms (GMOs), defined in the rule as ”excluded methods”;
• no use of sewage sludge or irradiation;
• use of organic seeds, when commercially available (must not use seeds treated with prohibited synthetic materials, such as fungicides);
• use of organic seedlings for annual crops;
• restrictions on the use of raw manure and compost;
• must maintain or improve the physical, chemical, and biological condition of the soil, minimize soil erosion, and implement soil building crop rotations;
• fertility management must not contaminate crops, soil, or water with plant nutrients, pathogens, heavy metals, or prohibited substances;
• maintenance of buffer zones, depending on risk of contamination;
• prevent commingling on split operations (the entire farm does not have to be converted to organic production, provided that sufficient measures are in place to segregate organic from non-organic crops and production inputs);
• no field burning to dispose of crop residues (may only burn to suppress disease or stimulate seed germination – flame weeding is allowed); and
• no residues of prohibited substances exceeding 5% of the EPA tolerance (certifier may require residue analysis if there is reason to believe that a crop has come in contact with prohibited substances or was produced using GMOs).

For livestock operations

• implementation of an Organic Livestock Plan;
• monitoring of management practices to assure compliance;
• organic management from last third of gestation for slaughter stock or 2nd day after hatching for poultry;
• one year of organic management for dairy cows prior to the production of organic milk, with an allowance to use farm-raised, third-year transitional feed when first converting a dairy farm to organic production;
• organic management of dairy animals from the last third of gestation, once an operation has converted to organic;
• mandatory outdoor access for all species when weather is suitable;
• mandatory access to pasture for ruminants during the grazing season, which must be at least 120 days/year;
• for ruminants, at least 30% dry matter intake from grazing during the grazing season;
• for ruminants, development of a pasture plan describing type of pasture, fencing and watering system, number of animals, length of grazing season, and steps taken to prevent erosion and protect water quality;
• 100% organic feed and approved feed supplements - agricultural ingredients used in feed supplements must be organic;
• DL-methionine allowed through October 21, 2010;
• no antibiotics, growth hormones, or GMOs;
• operator must implement preventative health care practices;
• vaccines, biologics, and excipients in livestock medications are allowed;
• parasiticides prohibited for slaughter stock and tightly regulated for dairy and breeder stock;
• physical alterations (castration, beak trimming, etc.) are allowed, if done to promote animal’s welfare and stress is minimized;
• animals must not be rotated between organic and non-organic production;
• operator must not withhold treatment in order to preserve an animal’s organic status, but any animal treated with a prohibited substance must not be used or sold as organic; and
• manure must be managed to prevent contamination of crops, water, and soil, and optimize the recycling of nutrients.

For processing operations

• implementation of an Organic Handling Plan;
• may use mechanical or biological processing methods;
• no commingling or contamination of organic products during processing or storage;
• no use of GMOs or irradiation;
• must use proactive sanitation and facility pest management practices to prevent pest infestations;
• must take steps to protect organic products and packaging from contamination, if pesticides are used in the processing facility;
• must keep records of all pesticide applications;
• must not use packaging materials that contain fungicides, preservatives, or fumigants;
• must use organic minor agricultural ingredients in products labeled “organic”, unless such ingredients appear on section 205.606 of the National List and are not commercially available from organic sources;
• must use approved label claims for “100% organic” (100% organic ingredients, including processing aids), “organic” (at least 95% organic ingredients), “made with organic ingredients” (at least 70% organic ingredients) and proper use of the word “organic” in ingredient list (less than 70% organic ingredients); and
• must identify the name of the certifier of the final handling operation on the product's informatin panel.

All operations producing and/or selling organic products must keep records to verify compliance with the regulation.
Such records must: 1) be adapted to the particular operation; 2) fully disclose all activities and transactions of the certified operation in sufficient detail as to be readily understood and audited; 3) be maintained for at least 5 years beyond their creation; and 4) be sufficient to demonstrate compliance with the regulation. The operator must make the records available for inspection.

Organic System Plan forms are typically provided by certifying agents as part of the application process. The plans must be updated annually, and operators are required to notify their certifying agents of all changes to the operation which might affect the operation’s certification status. Organic operations must follow their Organic System Plans, and they must be inspected at least annually.

All producers and handlers who sell over $5000/year in organic products must be certified. Producers and handlers who sell under $5,000/year do not have to be certified, but they still have to follow the NOP. Non-certified organic producers can sell their products directly to customers or to retail stores, but their products cannot be used as organic ingredients or feed by other operations, and they cannot use the “USDA Organic” seal.

Though the NOP requirements are similar to previous organic standards, there are some significant differences, and there are areas of continued controversy, confusion, and clarification. Despite the level of detail in the NOP, some interpretation is required for local variations and new conditions. It is always a good idea to check with certification agencies to get your questions answered, especially before purchasing or applying materials.

For more information on Organic Certification please see all of eOrganic's certification articles.

References

• Agricultural Marketing Service—National Organic Program [Online]. United States Department of Agriculture. Available at: http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ (verified 8 Dec 2008).