National Organic Program

The National Organic Standards Board

The USDA, headed by the secretary of agriculture, makes policy decisions about the Organic Rule. They do so with recommendations from a 15-member advisory council called the National Organic Standards Board. The board includes four farmers, two organic product processors, one retailer, one scientist, three consumer advocates, three environmentalists, and one certifying agent. It convenes several committees to make recommendations on specific regulations, including the Materials Working Group, the Policy Committee, the Crops Committee, the Livestock Committee, and the Certification Accreditation and Compliance Committee.

The NOSB plays an advisory role in most aspects of the NOP's rule making, meaning the USDA may decide whether or not to follow the NOSB's recommendations, with one exception. Decisions affecting the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances are made by the NOSB and are not considered advisory. Rather, in deciding which substances are allowed and disallowed, the NOSB's recommendations must become the rule.

Labeling

The word organic in the context of agricultural products is given a legal definition under the NOP. If a product is labeled organic or bears the USDA organic label, it must be produced in accordance with the Organic Rule and certified by an NOP-accredited certifying agency. A packaged product may be labeled with the words “made with organic ingredients” or claim that it is made with a specific ingredient, as in wine labeled “made with organic grapes,” if at least 70 percent of the ingredients are certified organic. There is an exemption to the certification requirement for very small scale farmers or processors that have less than $5,000 in annual sales. They can claim that a product is organic without being certified by an accredited agency, but they must produce the product in accordance with the organic standards.

Standards

The substance of the Organic Rule is the organic standards—a long and detailed specification of the practices and materials that can legally be used in producing organic products. [Page 319]Although originally conceived of as standards for producing organic food, the standards have been expanded to apply to cosmetics, clothing, and other agricultural products.

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