Title 7, AgricultureRelease 119-110

§6507 State Organic Certification Program

Title 7 › CHAPTER 94 — ORGANIC CERTIFICATION › § 6507

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

A State’s top official may write and send a plan to the Secretary to set up a State organic certification program. The program must meet the rules in this chapter. A State may make rules that are stricter than the federal program, but those extra rules must support the chapter’s goals, not conflict with it, not treat organic products from other States unfairly, and they cannot take effect until the Secretary approves them. The Secretary will review each approved State program at least once every 5 years. Before a State makes any big change to an approved program, it must send the change to the Secretary for approval. The Secretary must decide on any plan, change, or review within 6 months after getting it or starting the review.

Full Legal Text

Title 7, §6507

Agriculture, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

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)Additional requirements

(1)Authority

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)Content

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)Review and other determinations

(1)Subsequent review

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)Changes in program

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)Time for determination

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

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110