USDA-Organic / USDA-NOP

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Organic certification, also known as USDA-NOP (National Organic Program), is a regulatory program that ensures the integrity and consistency of organic agricultural products in the United States. Established in 2002, the NOP is responsible for developing national standards for organically produced agricultural products.

Organic standards

The USDA-NOP establishes strict standards that define what can be labelled as "organic." These standards cover various aspects of organic production, including soil quality, animal welfare, pest and weed control, and the use of additives.
Certification process

Farmers, ranchers, and food processors who want to label their products as organic must go through a certification process. This involves submitting an application to a USDA-accredited certifying agent, who verifies that the operation complies with the USDA Organic standards.
Inspections

Certified organic operations are subject to periodic inspections by USDA-accredited certifying agents. These inspections ensure ongoing compliance with organic standards.
Labelling

Products that meet the USDA Organic standards can carry the USDA Organic seal. There are specific labelling categories, such as "100% Organic," "Organic" (95% or more organic ingredients), and "Made with Organic" (70-94% organic ingredients).
Prohibited substances

The use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified organisms (GMOs), and sewage sludge is prohibited in organic agriculture. Organic farmers rely on natural and sustainable practices to manage pests and enhance soil fertility.
Livestock standards

Organic livestock must have access to the outdoors, be provided with organic feed, and not be treated with antibiotics or growth hormones.
Traceability

Organic certification requires strict record-keeping to trace the production and handling of organic products from the farm to the consumer.

USDA-Organic / USDA-NOP compliance

USDA Organic certification is designed to provide consumers with confidence that products labelled as organic meet a consistent set of standards. Nedstar supplies products that are certified as USDA-Organic and have been produced according to the standards of the USDA-NOP (US Dept. of Agriculture National Organic Program).

Our products