§6505 Compliance Requirements

Summary

After October 1, 1993, you may only sell or call a U.S. farm product "organic" if it was grown and handled under the rules in this law. You cannot put an organic-sounding label or make organic claims unless you follow those rules. If you follow the rules, the label can say it meets USDA organic standards and may use the USDA organic seal. Imported products can be sold as organic only if the Agriculture Secretary finds their organic certification has safeguards and standards at least as strict as the U.S. rules. The rule about calling food "organic" does not always apply to processed foods. If a product has at least 50% organic ingredients by weight (not counting water and salt), the Agriculture Secretary, after talking with the National Organic Standards Board and the Health and Human Services Secretary, can allow the word "organic" on the main label to describe those organic ingredients. If a product has less than 50% organic ingredients, the Secretary can allow "organic" only on the ingredient list to label which ingredients are organic. Small sellers who sell no more than $5,000 a year of farm products do not have to follow the main labeling rule.