USDA National Organic Program (7 CFR 205)

Issuer / operator

USDA / accredited certifiers

Geography

US (+ trade partners)

Sectors

Food & agriculture

Scope unit

Product

Current edition

National Organic Program — 7 CFR part 205 + Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule

Edition status

Published

Next edition review

Not yet reviewed. Help review this fact

Access to standard text

Free

Recognised / referenced by

'Organic' (≥95%) vs 'made with organic' (≥70%) tiers

Certified unit

Product

Assurance route

Third-party certification body

Chain-of-custody model

Segregated

On-product label

Yes

Certificate registry

https://organic.ams.usda.gov/integrity

Grievance / complaints

NOP complaints

ISEAL status

Statutory

The USDA National Organic Program administers the US federal organic standard at 7 CFR part 205. "Organic" is a legally protected term in the United States: products sold as organic must be certified by a USDA-accredited certifying agent, and labelling is tiered — "100 percent organic," "organic" (≥95%), and "made with organic" (≥70%, no seal) — each with defined claim rules. The standards cover crop and livestock production, handling, allowed and prohibited substances (via the National List), and record-keeping, with annual inspections. The Strengthening Organic Enforcement rule, effective since 2024, tightened supply-chain traceability and import oversight, and the Organic Integrity Database makes every operation's certificate publicly checkable. Because the term is regulated, misuse carries civil penalties. Certifying agents are accredited and audited by USDA itself, and residues, GMOs and prohibited substances are subject to inspection and testing. Imports require organic certificates through the NOP Import Certificate system, extending US oversight to foreign supply chains. Certification supports an organic claim only for the certified product and labelling tier; it does not by itself substantiate broader health, sustainability or "natural" wording.