1. What is the US standard (NOP) organic product certification

The act of inspecting a company’s product, process, and site scope and issuing an organic certificate in accordance with the requirements of the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA), the USDA’s organic regulations (7 CFR Part 205), and the NOP Handbook.

2. Which companies need to apply for US (NOP) organic product certification?

Companies that need to export "organic" products to the U.S. market or markets in countries with equivalent U.S. standards

3. Which products can apply for US standard (NOP) organic product certification

Applicable to products that are produced (planted, collected from wild plants), processed, and sold. (Products that cannot be applied for are aquatic animal products)

4. How to prepare for US standard (NOP) organic product certification

(1) Select a base or processing plant whose environment meets the requirements of US standards (NOP);

(2) Documentation: Establish a series of management system documents in accordance with the standard requirements and maintain effective operation;

(3) Operationally: Conduct organic production or processing activities in accordance with the standards;

5. Time to obtain the US standard (NOP) organic product certification results

Generally, the certification time can be divided into three parts: the time before the on-site inspection + the time from the inspection to the certification decision + the time for the enterprise to make rectification = the time to obtain the certificate. The time before the on-site inspection mainly depends on the time the enterprise takes to prepare the materials, which means that this part of the time is controlled by the enterprise itself. It takes 30 days from the on-site inspection to the issuance of the certification decision: the time for the enterprise to make rectification also depends on the speed of the enterprise's rectification, which is still controlled by the enterprise itself. The entire process from applying for certification to obtaining the certificate can be completed in 2 to 3 months with active cooperation.

6. Organic products entering the U.S. market and the use of U.S. organic logos and labels

If the USDA organic seal is used, it must be printed in one of two ways:

(1) Completely black and white or;

(2) green and white with a brown outer ring;

The colors green and brown are specified, no other colors are permitted, and both versions of the icon can be downloaded from the National Organic Program (NOP) website. The certifying agency's logo may not appear more prominently than the USDA logo.

7. Validity period of the certificate for US standard (NOP) organic product certification

Generally speaking, organic certification certificates are valid for 12 months, and must be resubmitted and inspected three months in advance each year.

8. Is there a conversion period for US standard (NOP) organic product certification?

Generally speaking, the conversion period varies depending on the growth cycle of crops or farmed animals. The inspector will make a specific determination based on the on-site situation.