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Buying Organic Food

In 1990, Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and authorized the USDA to create a National Organic Program (NOP). This program established strict certification standards for organic food producers and processors that are reviewed and monitored by USDA-accredited agents. Producers and processors must obtain USDA certification before they are allowed to label their products with a USDA Organic seal.

USDA regulations assure that organic products meet standards in multiple stages:

  • Growing
  • Processing
  • Handling

National Organic Program regulations benefit consumers, organic farmers, and processors by taking strong action against those who violate the law and jeopardize consumer confidence in organic products. The USDA may conduct unannounced inspections of organic operations at any time to investigate suspected violations of the organic regulations.

Penalties for inspection violations can include:

  • Up to $11,000 per violation
  • Suspension of organic certificate
  • Revocation of organic certificate

“Organic” is a labeling term that indicates that food or other agricultural products have been produced through approved methods. These methods foster the cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used. Animals that produce organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products may not be administered antibiotics or growth hormones. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations define the standards for using the USDA Organic label.

The standards are:

  • “100 percent organic” must contain only organic ingredients
  • “Organic” must contain at least 95 percent organic materials
  • “Made with organic ingredients” must contain 70-95 percent organic ingredients

Legal

Organic Food Production Act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6522
U.S. Government Publishing Office.
Organic Foods Production Act Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 205
U.S. Government Publishing Office.

 

USDA

Organic Agriculture
USDA.

 

Organic Foods
USDA. NAL. Food and Nutrition Information Center.

 

Organic Labeling and Marketing Information
USDA. AMS. National Organic Program.

 

Organic Production
USDA. NAL. Alternative Farming Systems Information Center.

 

National Organic Program
USDA. Agricultural Marketing Service.

 

Agricultural Law Information Partnership

National Organic Program Reading Room
National Agricultural Law Center.

 

Other

Organic Buying Guide
Organic Consumers Association.

 

National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
National Center for Appropriate Technology. ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.