National Organic Program

NOP is a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces consistent national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States.

The USDA NOP is strengthening organic enforcement. Organic certification is required foroperations that buy and sell organic products, including brokers, traders, distributors, importers, and private label owners.

Nature's SunGrown Foods is an organic certified exporting company with years of experiencein exporting organic products. Please contact us for any inquiry.

Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule

The Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule reduces fraud in the organic marketplace;strengthens oversight of organic producers, handlers, and certifiers; and improves USDA's enforcementmechanisms. USDA used public comments to refine this final rule and maximize benefit to the organic industry.

Who is impacted by SOE?

  • USDA accredited certifying agents USDA
  • Organic Inspectors
  • Producers
  • Processors
  • Brokers, traders, exporters who are not certified organic

How does the industry benefit?

  • Stronger tools and processes that help ensure compliance.
  • Robust and consistent enforecement of the organic regulations.
  • Improved farm to market traceability.
  • Strong consumer and farmer trust in the organic lable.
  • Level playing field for organic farms and business.

What does the rule do?

SOE protects organic integrity and reinforces farmer and consumer confidence in the USDA organic seal by supporting strong organic control systems. Improving farm to market traceability, increasing import oversight authority, and providing robust enforcement of the organic regulations. Key updates include:

  • Requiring certification of more of the businesses, like brokers and traders, at critical links in organic supply chains.
  • Increasing authority for more rigorous on-site inspections of certified operations.
  • Requires standardized certificates of organic operation.
  • Requires additional and more frequent reporting of data on certified operations.
  • Creates authority for more robust recordkeeping, traceability practices, and fraud prevention procedures.
  • Specify certification requirements for producer groups.

Who is affected?

The rule may affect USDA-accredited certifying agents; organic inspectors; certified organic operations; operations considering organic certification;
businesses that import or trade organic products; and retailers that sell organic products.

The full rule is available at: www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2023-00702/national-organic-program-strengthening-organic-enforcement

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Reduce the types of businesses exempt from organic certification

The proposed rule requires organic certification of businesses that:
  • Buy or sell organic products
  • Negotiate sales of organic products between buyers and sellers

When must organic operations comply with the rule?

Organic operations, certifying agents, and other organic stakeholders affected by the rule will have one year from the effective date of the rule to comply with the changes.

Learn more about the final rule: www.ams.usda.gov/organic/SOE

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