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Questions and Answers About
the National Organic Standards
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about the USDA National Organic Standards.
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What are the National Organic Program (NOP) standards (also referred to as the federal standards or federal rule)?
The NOP standards are a set of legal regulations from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) that define farming, production, and certification practices for foods bearing the organic label that are sold in the United States.
What about foods that are only partly organic?
The guidelines for organic foods labeling are as follows:
100% Organic: Only products containing 100% certified organic products can be labeled as such.
Organic: Products must contain 95% or more organic ingredients to be labeled organic.
Made With Organic Ingredients: Products must contain 70% to 95% organic ingredients to be described as "made with organic ingredients," and up to three organic ingredients can be listed.
Less than 70% organic content: Products with less than 70% organic content may use the term "organic" only on the ingredient information panel.
Are genetically engineered foods allowed in organic production?
No. Transgenic ingredients, or ingredients where genes have been transferred across species, are prohibited in organic farming and production.
What about irradiation?
Irradiation of organic foods is prohibited.
What about processed sewage sludge or biosolids?
Processed sewage sludge as fertilizer is prohibited in organic agriculture.
What does it mean when I see the USDA seal on products in the store?
The USDA Organic seal may be used only on products that are 95 to 100 percent organic by weight. Use of the seal is strictly voluntary.
How can I learn more?
The following websites might be helpful. Full documentation of the National Organic Standards and archives of responses sent in during the public comment period are available at the USDA's website.
Organic Trade Association: www.ota.com
USDA's National Organic Program: www.ams.usda.gov/nop
Organic Farming Research Foundation: www.ofrf.org
Organic Materials Review Institute: www.omri.org
To learn more about organic farming,visit our Organic 101 section. For more questions and answers about Earthbound Farm Products, visit our Frequently Asked Questions and our Quality and Food Safety pages.
