Consumer Basics

U.S.D.A. National Organic Program

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a marketing program within the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service.   The NOP is tasked with ensuring compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act  and its related regulations.

National Organic Program
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Agriculture Marketing Service
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Room 2642-South, Stop 0268
Washington, D.C. 20250-0268
Phone: (202) 720-3252
E-Mail: [email protected]
https://www.ams.usda.gov/about-ams/programs-offices/national-organic-program

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a marketing program within the USDA Agriculture Marketing Service.   The NOP is tasked with ensuring compliance with the Organic Foods Production Act and its related regulations, which, among other things, restrict when the term “organic” may be used on labels for agricultural products.  The NOP, through its Compliance and Enforcement Division, also processes and investigates complaints regarding violations of these regulations, such as falsely representing products as certified USDA organic.  When the NOP finds that farmers or businesses violate the law, the USDA can take action against them.  Depending on the severity of the violation, the USDA can impose fines and suspend or revoke a farmer’s or business’s organic certificate, which prohibits them from selling, labeling, or representing their products as organic.


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