Organic integrity in the supply chain

The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program (NOP) protects the integrity of USDA organic products throughout the world, so consumers can trust the organic label. The size and complexity of organic trade has grown over time, and many U.S. businesses rely on imports to create the organic products that consumers want. As the organic market grows, many growers, processors, and handlers are working within multi-business supply chains, often across borders.

The global organic control system includes strict standards; certifier accreditation; farm and business certification; and enforcement. Within this system, organic handlers play a vital role in protecting the integrity of organic products from farm to market in complex supply chains.

The NOP has published a short video to review the responsibilities of organic handlers in verifying that organic imports comply with U.S. standards. The video also reviews the role of certifiers in overseeing imports and enforcing the standards.

This video is an educational resource for people who work with organic imported products that involve long and complex supply chains. In May, the NOP will host webinars for both organic handlers and certifiers to review the requirements in greater depth. Look for dates, times, and access instructions for these webinars later this month.