What is USDA certification? USDA certification review

About USDA

The function of the United States Department of Agriculture can be summarized in one sentence, that is, "from field to table". USDA organic certification is the highest level of organic certification in the United States. It strictly controls from raw materials to production to ensure that its products do not contain any ingredients that are harmful to the human body and are 100% beneficial. As an organic food certified by the United States Department of Agriculture, the USDA logo must be 100% organic ingredients to be used.

Production standards for organic food in the United States

1. The use of genetically modified substances, radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited in organic production;

2. The use of antibiotics and growth hormones is prohibited in organic livestock farming;

3. 100% organic feed must be used in organic livestock breeding;

4. Production and processing materials specified in the "National List of Artificial Substances Allowed for Use and Natural Substances Prohibited for Use" must be used;

5. Any farm must not have used prohibited substances for three years before it can be certified as an organic production farm;

6. Any livestock to be slaughtered must be raised in an organic manner from two months before birth until its entire life in order to be certified as organic livestock;

7. Organic livestock must be raised outdoors, and ruminants must be raised on pasture.

USDA specific standards

1. The ingredients used do not contain any chemical synthetic substances, such as fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, food additives and genetically modified animals and plants.

2. The soil where the ingredients are grown must not have been used with chemical synthetic substances for at least three years.

3. Check production and sales records regularly.

4. Maintain strict physical separation of organic certified products.

5. Inspect the production facilities and buildings of organic products.

6. Products made entirely of organic ingredients can be labeled "100% organic" or use the USDA logo.

7. Products that use more than 70% organic ingredients can be called "made with organic ingredients." However, they cannot use the USDA logo.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 55 agencies in the United States to conduct USDA audits on product ingredients. For example, OTCO (Oregon Tilth Certified Organic) is an organic certification agency in Oregon.

Logo Instructions

The following two signs can usually be seen on product packaging:

1. USDA logo: must be 100% organic ingredients to be used.

2. Made with Certified Organic ingredients: This means that the water and salt contained in the whole bottle of water are more than 70% organic ingredients, which is also a sub-symbol of organic certification.

Organic Products Management Agency

The USDA is responsible for managing the legislation, certification, penalties and international cooperation of organic products in the United States. This is specifically done by the NOP under its Agriculturaltural Marketing Service (AMS), which has three divisions: the Standards Division, the Accreditation and International Cooperation Division, and the Supervision Division. They are responsible for agency approval (accreditation), complaint handling, case investigation, implementation of penalties, market monitoring, regulations, standards, revision of the National List, interpretation of regulations and standards, etc.

The National Organic Standard Board (NOSB) under the USDA is responsible for making recommendations on the formulation and revision of organic standards. NOSB consists of 15 members: 4 farmer representatives, 3 environmental experts, 3 consumer representatives, 2 processor representatives, 1 retailer representative, 1 scientist (ecology, chemistry, toxicology) representative and 1 USDA accredited agency representative. NOSB has 6 sub-councils: Planting Crop Sub-Council, Livestock Sub-Council, Organic Operation Sub-Council, Input Material Management Sub-Council, Certification and Accreditation and Conformity Assessment Sub-Council, and Policy Recommendation Sub-Council.

International Cooperation

The United States has signed two-way mutual recognition agreements with Canada, the European Union, and Japan, a recognition agreement for U.S. exported organic products with Taiwan, China, and a recognition agreement for organic products imported into the United States with New Zealand, India, and Israel.

NOP has recognized dozens of certification bodies from 26 countries and regions, including Australia, Germany, Argentina, New Zealand, the United States, Australia, Peru, Switzerland, Italy, Bolivia, India, Spain, Japan, Belgium, Mexico, the Netherlands, France, Armenia, Costa Rica, Turkey, Brazil, Israel, Guatemala, Canada, Austria, and Taiwan, China. These certification bodies can certify organic products outside their countries (regions). Currently, certification bodies from 10 countries and regions, including Australia, Germany, Japan, and the United States, have carried out organic product certification in China for export to the United States.