USDA National Organic Program (7 CFR Part 205) is the federal organic standard launched 2002. Operator categories — producer, handler, processor, importer, broker, trader. Organic System Plan (7 CFR 205.201) documents practices, substances, monitoring, recordkeeping (5-year retention), commingling prevention; annual update with certifier. National List (7 CFR 205.601-205.606) — §601 synthetic substances allowed in organic crop production, §602 non-synthetic prohibited, §603 synthetic allowed in livestock, §604 non-synthetic prohibited in livestock, §605 non-agricultural substances allowed in processed 'organic' / 'made with organic' products, §606 non-organic agricultural ingredients when organic commercially unavailable; 5-year NOSB sunset review. Third-party Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) and WSDA listings provide input-clearance shortcuts; certifier issues final clearance. Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) effective March 2024 — NOP Import Certificate required for every organic import in AMS Organic Integrity Database before US customs clearance, certification required for previously-exempt brokers/traders/importers/exporters/uncontainerised storage/transport, mandatory minimum 5% unannounced inspections per certifier, supply-chain traceability with documented investigation of unsupported organic claims. Four labelling categories per 7 CFR 205.301 — '100 percent organic' (all certified organic, USDA seal allowed), 'organic' (≥95% organic, USDA seal allowed), 'made with organic [up to 3 specified]' (≥70%, USDA seal prohibited), <70% (organic ingredients listed only in ingredient statement, USDA seal prohibited). Civil penalties up to $24,344 per violation for unauthorised seal use. Split-operation discipline — same-facility organic and non-organic production permitted with documented cleanout, scheduling, identity preservation. NOP-certified organic is automatically NBFDS-disclosure-exempt (excluded methods prohibited).

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