Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73
§6504 National standards for organic production
Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 94— - ORGANIC CERTIFICATION › § 6504
Summary
To be sold or labeled organic under this law, a farm product must meet three rules. It must be grown and handled without using synthetic substances, unless the law allows an exception. Except for rules the law allows and not counting livestock, the land where it was grown must not have had prohibited substances applied during the 3 years before harvest. It must also follow an organic plan agreed to by the producer, the handler, and the certifying agent.
Full Legal Text
Title 7, §6504
Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
To be sold or labeled as an organically produced agricultural product under this chapter, an agricultural product shall—
(1)have been produced and handled without the use of synthetic chemicals, except as otherwise provided in this chapter;
(2)except as otherwise provided in this chapter and excluding livestock, not be produced on land to which any prohibited substances, including synthetic chemicals, have been applied during the 3 years immediately preceding the harvest of the agricultural products; and
(3)be produced and handled in compliance with an organic plan agreed to by the producer and handler of such product and the certifying agent.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1991—Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “; and” for period at end.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
7 U.S.C. § 6504
Title 7 — Agriculture
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73