Organic Standards
National Organic Program Standards
The National Organic Program (NOP), part of the United States Department of Agriculture, was created by the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 (OFPA). The OFPA also established the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) which assisted in the development of the organic standards and continues to provide the NOP with recommendations.
The NOSB is composed of 15 members from throughout the organic industry, experts in environmental conservation and protection and toxicology, ecology or biochemistry, public interest representatives and a certifying agent. Board members serve a term of 5 years, and hold public forum meetings twice a year to allow comments on proposed recommendations to the NOP. Six weeks prior to each meeting, the comment period opens, during which time the public may submit written comments or sign up to make a short oral presentation. Visit www.ams.usda.gov/nosb to learn more about submitting and presenting comments.
After public comments are given, the NOSB discusses and then votes in public forum to decide on their final recommendations. The final recommendations are then submitted to the NOP. The NOSB has sole authority to recommend adding or removing materials from the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances – the NOP must make the changes to the regulations as outlined in these recommendation. Recommendations on any other areas of the organic regulations are open to the NOP to decide whether to include in the regulations.
PCO Standards and Policies
PCO policies are determined by the internal Policy Team and the volunteer Standards Committee. The Standards Committee is made up of PCO staff, producers and other PCO supporters and members of the industry. The committee meets monthly via conference call to discuss PCO policies and NOSB standards recommendations. PCO policies are voted on annually at the Standards Meeting. The meeting is open to the public, but only PCO members and producers may vote.
Visit the Committees & Chairs page and the Volunteer page for more information and to sign up.
Certification & Standards Manuals
PCO International Manual coming soon
If you cannot download these documents, they are also available by request from PCO (814-422-0251 or pco@paorganic.org)
