The National Agricultural Law Center
readingrooms section photo
spacer graphic
readingrooms section photo

Last updated June 2009


National Organic Program


Overview

The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 was enacted to create "national standards governing the marketing of certain agricultural products as organically produced products," to assure consumers that "organically produced products meet a consistent standard," and to facilitate "interstate commerce in fresh and processed food that is organically produced." On December 21, 2000, the Agricultural Marketing Service, an agency within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), published a final rule that implemented OFPA. The combination of OFPA and the final rule created the National Organic Program (NOP). Read the full overview

Note: Recently added resources are posted at the top of the applicable sections.

Major Statutes

Organic Food Production Act of 1990, 7 U.S.C. §§ 6501-6522

Regulations

National Organic Program Regulations, 7 C.F.R. Part 205
Federal Register Rules Open for Comment
Center published Federal Register Digest

Case Law

Note: Recently summarized cases are listed and linked in Recent Postings.

Case Law Index for National Organic Program

Administrative Law Decisions

NOP Letters (Agricultural Marketing Service - AMS)
USDA Office of the Administrative Law Judges
USDA Office of the Judicial Officer
USDA National Appeals Division
Center published USDA Judicial Officer's Decisions

Center Research Publications

Federal Regulation of Organic Food: A Research Guide for Legal Practitioners and
Food Industry Professionals (Jillian, 2006)
A Legal Guide to the National Organic Program (Pittman, 2004)
Farmers' Markets Rules, Regulations, and Opportunities (Hamilton, 2002)

Congressional Research Service Reports

CRS Subject(s):
Sustainable and Organic

Agricultural Law Bibliography

Introduction   |   Keyword Search   |   Browse Categories

Legal publications on National Organic Program:
Biotechnology
Food and Drug Law
Fruits and Vegetables - Perishable Agricultural Commodities
Hunger and Food Security Issues
Livestock and Packers & Stockyards
Sustainable and Organic Farming

Reference Resources

Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS)
National Organic Program
USDA National Organic Program (Livestock & Seed Program, Audit, Review & Compliance Branch)


Economic Research Service (ERS)
Feature: U.S. Organic Agriculture
Feature: Final Organic Rule Governs Marketing and Production
Data & Publications: Organic Production 1992-2003
Ag Chemicals & Production Technology: Organic Agriculture & Production Publication Links
Natural Resources, Environment, & Conservation: Organic Agriculture & Production
Publication Links
Briefing Room: Organic Farming and Marketing
Analysis: Organic Agriculture Provisions [of the 2002 Farm Bill]


Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Ag Compliance Assistance Center: Organic Farming
Labeling of Pesticide Products Under the National Organic Program
Pesticides and Food: What "Organically Grown" Means


Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Compliance Assistance: Using the Claim "Certified Organic By ... Certifying Entity" on Meat
and Poultry Product Labeling
FSIS Responses to Questions From the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
Regarding Organic Meat and Poultry Products Labeling


Other Federal Resources
Laws and Regulations: Organic Certification

Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Organic Agriculture Information Access
Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources (2003)
Organic Products (Foreign Agricultural Service)
Organic Farming (Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service)
Soil Quality Management: Organic Agriculture and Resource Conservation
(National Resources Conservation Service)
Alcohol Beverages Labeled with Organic Claims (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau)


Publications
Hushed Up: Confidentiality Clauses in Organic Milk Contracts (FLAG, 2008)
When Your Processor Requires More Than Organic Certification: Additional Requirements in
Organic Milk Contracts (FLAG, 2008)
Disaster Readiness and Recovery: Legal Considerations for Organic Farmers (FLAG, 2007)
Understanding Farmers' Rights to be Paid for Fruit and Vegetable Crops (FLAG, 2007)
Federal Law Protects Farmers' Rights to be Paid for Fruit and Vegetable Contracts (FLAG, 2007)
Understanding Farmers' Market Rules (FLAG, 2006)
Of Affected Acres and Alternative Markets: Which Way for Organic Farmers? (FLAG CLE seminar, 2006)
Future Issues in Agricultural Law and Rural Practice (FLAG CLE seminar, 2006)
Before You Sign on the Dotted Line. . .Questions for Farmers to Ask Before Entering Into a Direct
Marketing Agreement (FLAG, 2005)
If Your Farm Is Organic, Must It Be GMO-Free? Organic Farmers, Genetically Modified Organisms,
and the Law (FLAG, Inc., 2007)
Organic Farming Compliance Handbook: A Resource Guide for Western Region Agricultural
Professionals (Baker et al., Western Region USDA SARE Program)
Organic Regulation, Certification, Transition & History Publications
(National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service)
How are Organic Farming Inputs Evaluated? (Fergusen, U. FL Ext., 2004)
The National Organic Program, Cleaned Up and Ready to Go (Bowles; American Bar Association)
Summary: The USDA National Organic Program Requirements for Food Retailers and
Distribution Centers (Food Marketing Institute, October 2002)
U.S. National Organic Program standards: Implications for Researchers
(American Phytopathological Society)
Glossary of Organic Farming Terms (Earthbound Farms)
Organic Farm Certification & the National Organic Program (Kuepper, Appropriate Technology
Transfer for Rural Areas - ATTRA, 2002)
National Organic Program: Checklist for Producers (ATTRA, 2003)
Codex Alimentarius - Organically Produced Foods (Food and Agricultural Organization
of the United Nations - FAO, 2001)


Additional Resources
National Organic Program Posts (United States Agricultural & Food Law and Policy Blog)
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Crop Improvement Association
One Cert International Organic Standards
Links to Standards Issued by Other Countries
Organic Agriculture (FAO)
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements - IFOAM
U.S. National Organic Program (Organic Trade Association)
Organic Rule (Organic Materials Review Institute)
Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program
Organic Production and Certification (MN Dept. of Ag.)





Warning:

You are using an older web browser that is not compatible with basic Web standards.

We recommend that you upgrade to one of the following browsers:

Windows or Mac Users:

Netscape 6+, Opera 6+, MSIE 6+

Linux OS:

Netscape 6+, Konqueror

In an effort to create a more organized World Wide Web, the W3C has created many new Web layout standards. The key focus of their effort is to provide the best possible interoperability between the different browsing programs available.

In the days of the browser wars between Netscape and Microsoft, many hacks were propagated by the competing companies. However, today these hacks have done more to hurt the Web than to help the battling companies. By downloading and installing one of the programs listed above, the Web will be one step closer to eliminating these hacks and bugs.

Click here to go view current Web browser usage statistics.