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What is organic?
Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food accredited certifying agent before products can be
or other agricultural product has been produced labeled organic. An overview of some of the crops,
through approved methods. These methods integrate livestock, and handling standards are provided below.
cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that Please note that all organic operations must comply
foster cycling of resources, promote ecological with all requirements in the USDA organic regulations.
balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers,
sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering Crop Standards
may not be used.
The organic crop production standards require that:
Who is affected by the USDA organic
Land must have had no prohibited substances
regulations? applied to it for at least 3 years before the
harvest of an organic crop.
All products that are sold, labeled, or represented
as organic must meet all requirements in the USDA
Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be
organic regulations. Products must be certified organic
managed through tillage and cultivation
by a USDA-accredited certifying agent. The USDA
practices, crop rotations, and cover crops,
organic regulations ensure that organically labeled
supplemented with animal and crop waste
products meet consistent national standards.
materials and allowed synthetic materials.
Exceptions. Operations whose gross agricultural
Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be
income from organic sales is less than $5,000 do not
controlled primarily through management
need to be certified in order to sell, label, or represent
practices including physical, mechanical, and
their products as organic. These operations also do not
biological controls. When these practices
need to prepare an organic systems plan. However,
are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or
they must still comply with all other USDA organic
synthetic substance approved for use on the
regulations. Exempt operations may use the word
National List may be used.
organic, but may not use the USDA organic seal on
their products. Retail food establishments that sell
Operations must use organic seeds and other
organically produced agricultural products do not
planting stock when available.
need to be certified.
The use of genetic engineering, ionizing
What are the USDA organic radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited.
requirements?
The organic standards describe the specific
requirements that must be verified by a USDA-
Livestock Standards
Livestock standards apply to animals used for meat, Organically raised animals must not be given
milk, eggs, and other animal products sold, labeled, or hormones to promote growth or antibiotics for
represented as organic. Some requirements include: any reason.
Ruminants must be out on pasture for the Products sold, labeled, or represented as
entire grazing season, but for not less than 120 organic must have at least 95 percent certified
days. These animals must also receive at least organic content.
30 percent of their feed, or dry matter intake
(DMI), from pasture. Products sold, labeled, or represented as made
with organic must have at least 70 percent
All organic livestock are required to have certified organic content. The USDA organic
access to the outdoors year-round. Animals seal may not be used on these products.
may only be temporarily confined due
to documented environmental or health Products containing less than 70 percent
considerations. organic content may identify specific
ingredients as organic in the ingredients list.
October 2002
Updated October 2011