Title 7 — AgricultureRelease 119-73

§6507 State organic certification program

Title 7 › Chapter CHAPTER 94— - ORGANIC CERTIFICATION › § 6507

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

A state's lead official can send a plan to the Secretary to set up a State organic certification program. The program must follow the chapter's rules. States may set stricter standards than the federal program for organic farms, handlers, and products, but extra rules must support the chapter's goals, not conflict with it or discriminate against products from other states, and they only apply after the Secretary approves them. The Secretary must review each state program at least once every 5 years. States must submit major changes for approval before using them. The Secretary must decide on a plan, change, or review within 6 months.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6507

Agriculture — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The governing State official may prepare and submit a plan for the establishment of a State organic certification program to the Secretary for approval. A State organic certification program must meet the requirements of this chapter to be approved by the Secretary.

(b)(1)A State organic certification program established under subsection (a) may contain more restrictive requirements governing the organic certification of farms and handling operations and the production and handling of agricultural products that are to be sold or labeled as organically produced under this chapter than are contained in the program established by the Secretary.

(2)Any additional requirements established under paragraph (1) shall—

(A)further the purposes of this chapter;

(B)not be inconsistent with this chapter;

(C)not be discriminatory towards agricultural commodities organically produced in other States in accordance with this chapter; and

(D)not become effective until approved by the Secretary.

(c)(1)The Secretary shall review State organic certification programs not less than once during each 5-year period following the date of the approval of such programs.

(2)The governing State official, prior to implementing any substantive change to programs approved under this subsection, shall submit such change to the Secretary for approval.

(3)The Secretary shall make a determination concerning any plan, proposed change to a program, or a review of a program not later than 6 months after receipt of such plan, such proposed change, or the initiation of such review.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

7 U.S.C. § 6507

Title 7 — Agriculture

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73