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
Case Law
Case Law Index for National Organic Program
Administrative Law Decisions
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
State-Specific Direct Marketing Business Guides (National AgLaw Center & U. IL @Urbana)
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
Reports– published and made available by CRS beginning in 2017
Subjects- published by CRS and made available by NALC until 2018:
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)
USDA: Organic Program (Certification, Training, Data)
The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Economic Research Service (ERS)
Briefing Room: Organic Agriculture
Publication: Emerging Issues in the Organic Industry (Greene, 2009)
Publication: Characteristics, Costs, and Issues for Organic Dairy Farming (McBride, 2009)
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
National Ag Compliance Assistance Centers
Labeling of Pesticide Products Under the National Organic Program
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)
Other Federal Resources
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
Organic Agriculture Information Access
Organic Production/Organic Food: Information Access Tools
Organic Agricultural Products: Marketing and Trade Resources (2003)
Organic Products (Foreign Agricultural Service)
Alcohol Beverages Labeled with Organic Claims (Alcohol & Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau)
Disaster Relief for Organic Farmers
Additional Resources
National Organic Program Posts (Ag & Food Law Blog)
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Organic Crop Improvement Association
One Cert International Organic Standards
Organic Agriculture (FAO)
International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements – IFOAM
U.S. National Organic Program (Organic Trade Association)
Washington State Department of Agriculture Organic Food Program
Organic Agriculture (MN Dept. of Ag.)
Publications
Direct Marketing Channels & Strategy for Organic Products
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)
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)
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)