In 2002 the National Organic Program (NOP) was established through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to provide legal and consistent regulations and certification procedures which apply to production and processing of all produce sold as organic in the United States . In order to sell products as organic, farmer, rancher or processor must first become certified by a NOP accredited certifying agency. Certification is a yearly cost and a farmer should evaluate whether he or she has enough organic product to sell in order to justify the cost. Farmers whose gross agricultural income from organic sales total $5,000 or less annually are exempt from certification under NOP 205.101 Exemptions and exclusions.
National Organic Program. Program Manager, USDA-AMS-TMP-NOP, Room 4008-South Bldg., 1400 Independence Avenue SW , Washington , DC 20250-0020 . 202-720-3252 or http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/ .
NOP Standards only: ( http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/NOP/standards/FullRegTextOnly.html )
Guidebook for Organic Certification, Answers to Common Certification Questions, Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES)
The New Farm Guide to US Organic Certifiers .
Additional Certification Programs
IFOAM-International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
IFOAM's mission is leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement in its full diversity. Our goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture.
JAS-Japan Agriculture Standards
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries comprehensively undertakes administration related to agricultural, forestry and fisheries products, covering from production to consumption and also to rural development and promotion of the welfare of rural inhabitants with a view to achieving stable supply of food, sound development of the agriculture, forestry and fisheries industries and upgrading of the welfare of rural inhabitants.
Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA)
Swiss Ordinance of Organic Farming
Disclaimer
Reference to commercial products or trade names in these publications is made with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by University of Nebraska-Lincoln is implied.
