Glossary of Organic Certification Terms for Handlers

A product that contains, by weight or fluid volume excluding water and salt, 100 percent organically produced ingredients.¹

A shorthand for reconciling inputs and outputs in a mass-balance audit, where beginning inventory plus receipts, minus disposals, should equal ending inventory plus what was used or sold.

“A determination made by the Secretary that authorizes a private, foreign, or State entity to conduct certification activities as a certifying agent under this part.”²

“The Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, as amended (7 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).”²

Packaging that deliberately interacts with the product to extend shelf life, maintain quality, or improve safety; allowed types must not compromise organic integrity.

The presence of an undeclared or prohibited substance, or handling that renders a product impure or misrepresented.

“A noncompliance decision that adversely affects certification, accreditation, or a person subject to the Act, including a proposed suspension or revocation; a denial of certification, accreditation, or reinstatement; a cease and desist notice; or a civil penalty.”²

A USDA database listing import requirements, including phytosanitary conditions, for agricultural commodities.

“All substances or materials used in the production or handling of organic agricultural products.”²

“The Agricultural Marketing Service of the United States Department of Agriculture.”²

A substance capable of causing an allergic reaction; managed through labeling and cleaning controls that run alongside organic controls.

A legally binding limitation, condition, or restriction attached to a substance’s National List entry specifying how, when, or in what form it may be used.³

The on-site inspection, conducted each year, as part of maintaining certification.

The yearly submission to the certifier that updates the Organic System Plan detailing any changes required to maintain certification.⁴

The USDA agency that regulates plant and animal health, including import phytosanitary requirements.

A formal challenge to an adverse action or certification decision, filed with the NOP within the allowed timeframe.⁵

An association that sets model feed labeling and ingredient definitions widely adopted by states.

The span of time covered by an audit, such as a mass-balance or traceback review.

“Documentation that is sufficient to determine the source, transfer of ownership, and transportation of any agricultural product labeled as “100 percent organic,” the organic ingredients of any agricultural product labeled as “organic” or “made with organic (specified ingredients)” or the organic ingredients of any agricultural product containing less than 70 percent organic ingredients identified as organic in an ingredients statement.”²

U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s electronic system for processing imports and filing entry data.

A shipping document identifying the goods, parties, and terms of a shipment; part of the audit trail.

A water-treatment additive used in boilers; if the steam contacts organic products, the additive must be on the National List or be completely non-volatile.

The company that owns a product brand and is responsible for its organic claims and labeling.

A record that links one document or identifier to another so a product can be traced across a break in labeling or numbering.

“The presentation to consumers at retail sale of an agricultural product in unpackaged, loose form, enabling the consumer to determine the individual pieces, amount, or volume of the product purchased.”²

Large-format packaging for products sold in bulk or to businesses rather than to consumers.

California’s state organic program, operated under and in addition to the federal regulations.

A company that transports freight, such as a trucking line, whose handling can affect organic integrity.

A unique identifier assigned to a chemical substance, used to confirm the exact identity of many National List substances.

An attachment to the organic certificate that lists the certified products, facilities, or operation details.

A laboratory document reporting a lot’s composition or residue results, used to verify ingredients and support fraud prevention.

A supplier document attesting that a packaging material or component meets stated requirements.

Documentation confirming that a rejected or noncompliant shipment was destroyed.

“A determination made by a certifying agent that a production or handling operation is in compliance with the Act and the regulations in this part, which is documented by a certificate of organic operation.”²

“The act of reviewing and evaluating a certified operation or applicant for certification and determining compliance or ability to comply with the USDA organic regulations. This does not include performing an inspection.”²

“A crop or livestock production, wild-crop harvesting or handling operation, or portion of such operation that is certified by an accredited certifying agent as utilizing a system of organic production or handling as described by the Act and the regulations in this part.”²

The required label statement naming the operation’s certifying agent.⁶

A certifying agent’s own mark, distinct from the USDA organic seal, that may appear on labels subject to the certifier’s rules.

“Any entity accredited by the Secretary as a certifying agent for the purpose of certifying a production or handling operation as a certified production or handling operation.”²

The documented sequence of custody and handling that a product passes through in the supply chain.

Chlorine-based sanitizers (such as sodium hypochlorite) allowed for cleaning and sanitizing under National List conditions, subject to rinse and residual limits.

A monetary fine the USDA may impose for knowingly selling or labeling a product as organic in violation of the Act.⁷

“Oral, written, implied, or symbolic representations, statements, or advertising or other forms of communication presented to the public or buyers of agricultural products that relate to the organic certification process or the term, “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)),” or, in the case of agricultural products containing less than 70 percent organic ingredients, the term, “organic,” on the ingredients panel.”²

A method of cleaning equipment parts after removing them from the line, typically in a wash station.

A signed statement from a carrier attesting that a transport unit was clean and free of prohibited substances before loading organic product.

A method of cleaning the interior of equipment in place, without disassembly, by circulating cleaning solutions.

A cleaning agent used to remove soil and residues from surfaces before sanitizing.

A company that manufactures products on behalf of a brand owner.

A company that packages or labels products on behalf of a brand owner.

The rule that a nonorganic form of an ingredient may be used only after confirming an organic form is not commercially available in the needed form, quality, or quantity. See “Commercially available”.⁸

“The ability to obtain a production input in an appropriate form, quality, or quantity to fulfill an essential function in a system of organic production or handling, as determined by the certifying agent in the course of reviewing the organic plan.”²

“Physical contact between unpackaged organically produced and nonorganically produced agricultural products during production, processing, transportation, storage or handling, other than during the manufacture of a multiingredient product containing both types of ingredients.”²

A template set of Organic System Plans developed by the NOP available for organic certifiers to use.

A report alleging that an operation or product does not meet the organic regulations, which a certifier or the NOP may investigate.

A feed formulated to provide all the nutrients an animal needs without additional supplementation.

The labeling tier a product falls into based on its organic percentage, namely “100% Organic”, “Organic”, or “Made with Organic”. See also “Product composition”.⁹

“All activities, including oversight, accreditation, compliance review, and enforcement, undertaken by a government to ensure that the applicable technical requirements for the production and handling of organic agricultural products are fully and consistently applied.”²

Contact between an organic product and a prohibited substance that compromises its organic status.

A documented plan describing how an operation will resolve a noncompliance and prevent it from recurring, submitted to the certifier.

The country where a product or ingredient was produced, relevant to import documentation and labeling.

Information giving a certifier or the NOP reasonable grounds to suspect noncompliance or fraud and to open an investigation.

The federal agency that regulates and processes goods entering the United States.

A licensed party that files entry documents and clears imported goods through customs.

Supplier statements attesting to facts about an ingredient, such as absence of excluded methods or prohibited substances.

A letter from the certifier communicating its decision at the close of the certification review process.

Cleaning that removes soil without water, using tools such as brushing, scraping, or vacuuming.

The continuously updated online version of the Code of Federal Regulations, the canonical source for the text of 7 CFR Part 205.

An notice directing that a detained imported product be held, exported, or destroyed.

Business software that manages transactions and inventory; often used to maintain organic records and traceability.

The maximum residue level the Environmental Protection Agency permits for a pesticide on a given commodity, used as a reference in residue testing.¹⁰

An arrangement in which the United States and a foreign country recognize each other’s organic standards as equivalent for trade.

A packaging component that absorbs ethylene to slow ripening; allowed only where it does not compromise organic status.

A bloc of European countries; an organic trade partner referenced in equivalency and trade arrangements.

“A variety of methods used to genetically modify organisms or influence their growth and development by means that are not possible under natural conditions or processes and are not considered compatible with organic production. Such methods include cell fusion, microencapsulation and macroencapsulation, and recombinant DNA technology (including gene deletion, gene doubling, introducing a foreign gene, and changing the positions of genes when achieved by recombinant DNA technology). Such methods do not include the use of traditional breeding, conjugation, fermentation, hybridization, in vitro fertilization, or tissue culture.”²

A handler that meets the criteria for exemption from certification but must still comply with applicable organic requirements.

An operation that meets the criteria for exemption from certification and so does not need to be certified, though it must still comply with applicable organic requirements.

A storage site that qualifies for exemption from certification but must still protect organic integrity.

The discussion at the end of an on-site inspection in which the inspector reviews findings, confirms the information gathered, and notes any issues needing follow-up.

A document supporting the export of organic product, confirming its status for the receiving country.

The walk-through portion of an on-site inspection that traces product flow through the operation.

The label on a livestock feed product stating its guaranteed analysis, ingredients, and directions.

The last handler to package or otherwise handle a product before it reaches the consumer, responsible for the accuracy of its organic labeling.

A regulation issued in final, binding form after the notice-and-comment rulemaking process.

An additional inspection to verify that issues from a prior inspection have been resolved.

The federal agency regulating food safety and labeling, whose requirements apply alongside the organic regulations.

Any surface that touches food during handling, which must be cleaned and sanitized with allowed materials.

A certifying agent operating outside the United States that certifies operations to USDA or equivalent standards.

A foreign country’s system for assessing and verifying compliance with organic standards.

The practices used to identify potential organic fraud, such as testing, reconciliation, and monitoring.

The practices and controls an operation uses to prevent fraudulent organic claims in its supply chain.

Treatment with a gaseous pesticide; a prohibited method that can strip a product’s organic status.

Produced using techniques that insert or alter genetic material; an excluded method not allowed in organic handling.

An organism whose genome has been altered through genetic engineering; excluded from organic production and handling.

An import-focused trade database used to verify organic shipments and trading partners; the international extension of the USDA Organic Integrity Database.

Baseline food-manufacturing practices for safety and quality that support, but are separate from, organic requirements.

“To sell, process, or package agricultural products, including but not limited to trading, facilitating sale or trade on behalf of a seller or oneself, importing to the United States, exporting for sale in the United States, combining, aggregating, culling, conditioning, treating, packing, containerizing, repackaging, labeling, storing, receiving, or loading.”²

“Any person that handles agricultural products, except final retailers of agricultural products that do not process agricultural products.”²

“Any operation that handles agricultural products, except final retailers of agricultural products that do not process agricultural products.”²

The standardized numeric code classifying a product for customs and tariff purposes.

A food-safety system identifying hazards and control points; its logic is often adapted to organic control points.

The party legally responsible for a shipment’s entry into the United States and its compliance at import.

Records documenting products and ingredients received, such as invoices, certificates, and receiving logs.

The part of a package label, generally to the right of the principal display panel, carrying required information such as the ingredient statement.¹¹

“Any substance used in the preparation of an agricultural product that is still present in the final commercial product as consumed.”²

A check comparing the organic ingredients called for by a product’s formulation against the quantities actually purchased and used.

The listing of a product’s ingredients, used to verify sourcing and organic status.

“The list of ingredients contained in a product shown in their common and usual names in the descending order of predominance.”²

The first on-site inspection of an operation applying for certification.

The certifier’s letter following its initial review of an application, identifying what is still needed before inspection or a decision.

“The act of examining and evaluating the production or handling operation of an applicant for certification or certified operation to determine compliance with the Act and the regulations in this part.”²

The report an inspector prepares documenting observations and findings, used by the certifier in its decision.

A tiered approach to pest control that prioritizes prevention and monitoring, using least-toxic measures before allowed pesticides.

Records generated within the operation, such as production, cleaning, and inventory logs.

A trace of a product backward through an operation’s own records to its incoming ingredients and lots.

Countries with which the United States maintains organic trade arrangements.

A cleaning, rinse, or purge step performed between nonorganic and organic runs to prevent contamination or commingling.

High-energy radiation; its use to treat organic products (irradiation) is prohibited.¹²

Treatment of a product with ionizing radiation, a prohibited method in organic handling.¹²

Items an inspector flags for clarification or follow-up that are not themselves findings of noncompliance.

“A display of written, printed, or graphic material on the immediate container of an agricultural product or any such material affixed to any agricultural product or affixed to a bulk container containing an agricultural product, except for package liners or a display of written, printed, or graphic material which contains only information about the weight of the product.”²

A period during which an operation may continue using existing preprinted labels after a change, subject to certifier approval.

“All written, printed, or graphic material accompanying an agricultural product at any time or written, printed, or graphic material about the agricultural product displayed at retail stores about the product.”²

The composition-based tier that determines how a product may be labeled and where the term organic may appear.

The most recent certified operation to handle a product, which bears responsibility for its organic status at that point.

A sanitizer applied as the final step with no organic product contact afterward, or that does not require a rinse before organic contact.

A letter issued by the certifier stating its decision on a certification matter after review.

A supplier statement guaranteeing that a material meets specified requirements, such as food-contact safety.

A written notice from the certifier that an operation is out of compliance and must take corrective action.¹³

A substance’s inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances.³

The exact name under which a substance appears on the National List.³

Feed intended for animals, including complete feeds, supplements, and additives.

An intermediary that arranges transportation and logistics services for shipments.

“Any number of containers which contain an agricultural product of the same kind located in the same conveyance, warehouse, or packing house and which are available for inspection at the same time.”²

An identifier assigned to a batch of product for traceability and quality control.

A product that contains at least 70 percent organically produced ingredients and meets the made-with labeling requirements.¹⁴

A label statement identifying the specified organic ingredients or food groups in a made-with-organic product.¹⁵

“Any written, printed, audiovisual, or graphic information, including advertising, pamphlets, flyers, catalogues, posters, and signs, distributed, broadcast, or made available outside of retail outlets that are used to assist in the sale or promotion of a product.”²

A reconciliation that checks whether the quantity of organic product produced, shipped, or sold is supported by the quantity of organic inputs received.

The list of inputs, ingredients, and processing aids an operation uses, submitted for review against the regulations.

A pest-control measure using mechanical devices or actions, such as traps or exclusion, rather than chemical substances.

A voluntary process in which a neutral party helps an operation and its certifier resolve a dispute over a certification decision.¹⁶

A premix supplying minerals that is blended into livestock feed.

A shortcoming noted during review or inspection that requires correction but does not by itself disqualify an operation from certification.

A control put in place to reduce an identified fraud risk.

A facility that handles both organic and nonorganic products, requiring controls to prevent commingling and contamination.

A practice run of a mass-balance or traceback audit an operation performs on itself to test its records.

The ongoing observation and recording used to detect pests, verify controls, or confirm process conditions.

“A list of allowed and prohibited substances as provided for in the Act.”²

“The program authorized by the Act for the purpose of implementing its provisions.”²

“A board established by the Secretary under 7 U.S.C. 6518 to assist in the development of standards for substances to be used in organic production and to advise the Secretary on any other aspects of the implementation of the National Organic Program.”²

A supplier statement attesting that a natural flavor was produced without prohibited substances or excluded methods and meets organic requirements.

A failure to meet one or more requirements of the organic regulations.¹⁷

An agricultural product that has not been produced and handled in accordance with the organic regulations.

A physical partition made of nonporous material used to separate organic from nonorganic areas or products.

A material without absorbent pores, which can be cleaned effectively for reuse with organic product.

“Any container used for shipping or storage of an agricultural product that is not used in the retail display or sale of the product.”²

“A substance that is derived from mineral, plant, or animal matter and does not undergo a synthetic process as defined in section 6502(21) of the Act (7 U.S.C. 6502(21)). For the purposes of this part, nonsynthetic is used as a synonym for natural as the term is used in the Act.”²

A document issued by the National Organic Program that interprets the regulations and describes how to comply; guidance explains requirements but does not itself create new ones.

The identifier the National Organic Program assigns to a certified operation or certifier within its systems.

An electronic certificate issued for a shipment of organic products imported into the United States, verifying the shipment’s organic status.

The certifier’s written notice that it will not grant certification, stating the reasons.

The certifier’s written notice that an operation has violated the regulations, identifying what must be corrected.¹³

The certifier’s notice proposing to revoke an operation’s certification, which the operation may rebut or appeal.

A published proposal to create or amend a regulation, issued for public comment before any final rule.

The certifier’s notice proposing to suspend an operation’s certification, which the operation may rebut or appeal.

Storage of organic products at a location other than the certified operation’s primary facility.

The USDA’s independent office that audits and investigates USDA programs, including matters referred from the organic program.

The profile of a certified operation maintained in the Organic Integrity Database.

The full set of records an operation maintains to document its organic activities.

“A labeling term that refers to an agricultural product produced in accordance with the Act and the regulations in this part.”²

A product that contains, by weight or fluid volume excluding water and salt, not less than 95 percent organically produced ingredients and meets the “organic” labeling requirements.¹⁸

An agricultural ingredient produced and handled in accordance with the organic regulations.

The document a certifier issues confirming that an operation complies with the organic regulations for the listed scope and products.

A federal program that reimburses part of an operation’s organic certification costs.

Any statement representing a product or ingredient as organic, which must be supported by certification.¹⁹

A step in the process where organic integrity could be lost and where a control is applied and documented.

A foreign country’s overall system for regulating and overseeing organic production and trade.

“The final certified exporter of the organic agricultural product, who facilitates the trade of, consigns, or arranges for the transport/shipping of the organic agricultural product from a foreign country to the United States.”²

“Deceptive representation, sale, or labeling of nonorganic agricultural products or ingredients as “100 percent organic,” “organic,” or “made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s)).””²

A written, risk-based plan identifying and mitigating the risk of fraudulent organic claims; a required part of the Organic System Plan.²⁰

The markings on a product or container that identify it as organic through the supply chain.

“The operation responsible for accepting imported organic agricultural products within the United States and ensuring NOP Import Certificate data are entered into the U.S. Customs and Border Protection import system of record.”²

The USDA National Organic Program’s email newsletter announcing policy updates, guidance, and enforcement news.

“Any person retained or used by a certifying agent to conduct inspections of certification applicants or certified production or handling operations.”²

The USDA’s free online training platform for organic professionals, including certifiers and inspectors.

A USDA rulemaking establishing livestock and poultry living-condition, handling, transport, and slaughter requirements.

Livestock feed produced and handled in accordance with the organic regulations.

“Management of a production or handling operation in compliance with all applicable provisions under this part.”²

An independent nonprofit that reviews inputs and processing aids for compatibility with the organic regulations and publishes approved-product listings.

The percentage of a product’s ingredients, by weight or fluid volume excluding water and salt, that are organically produced.²¹

“A plan of management of an organic production or handling operation that has been agreed to by the producer or handler and the certifying agent and that includes written plans concerning all aspects of agricultural production or handling described in the Act and the regulations in subpart C of this part.”²

A general term for equivalency, recognition, or other agreements that govern organic trade between countries.

“A labeling term that refers to an agricultural product produced in accordance with the Act and the regulations in this part.”²

A USDA rule setting the requirements for transitioning dairy animals into organic production.

Records documenting products shipped or sold, such as invoices, bills of lading, and sales records.

Any container or wrapping used to enclose a product; packaging materials must not contaminate organic product.

Shelving used to store palletized product; used in storage to separate and identify organic lots.

An operation that handles both organic and nonorganic forms of the same product, a higher-risk case of a split operation.

An optional label statement declaring the percentage of organic ingredients in a product.²²

The prevention, monitoring, and control of pests in a handling operation using practices consistent with the organic regulations.

“Any substance which alone, in chemical combination, or in any formulation with one or more substances is defined as a pesticide in section 2(u) of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136(u) et seq).”²

A formal request to add, remove, or amend a substance on the National List, reviewed by the NOSB and NOP.²³

A pest-control measure using physical means such as traps, barriers, or removal rather than chemical substances.

A hands-on count of product on hand, used to verify records during an audit.

An official certificate confirming that a plant product meets the importing country’s plant-health requirements.

A treatment applied to meet plant-health import requirements; some treatments are prohibited for organic product.

A material with pores that can absorb residues, making it harder to clean between organic and nonorganic uses.

The location where imported goods arrive and are presented for customs processing.

“The guidelines and requirements through which a production or handling operation implements a required component of its production or handling organic system plan. A practice standard includes a series of allowed and prohibited actions, materials, and conditions to establish a minimum level performance for planning, conducting, and maintaining a function, such as livestock health care or facility pest management, essential to an organic operation.”²

A concentrated mixture of micro-ingredients, such as vitamins and minerals, blended into feed.

“That part of a label that is most likely to be displayed, presented, shown, or examined under customary conditions of display for sale.”²

A product made by one operation and sold under another company’s brand.

A document recording the roles and responsibilities between a brand owner and the operation that makes its private-label product.

A brand owner that sells product made by another operation under the brand owner’s own label.

A standard, like the organic regulations, that certifies how a product is produced rather than testing only the final product.

“Cooking, baking, curing, heating, drying, mixing, grinding, churning, separating, extracting, slaughtering, cutting, fermenting, distilling, eviscerating, preserving, dehydrating, freezing, chilling, or otherwise manufacturing and includes the packaging, canning, jarring, or otherwise enclosing food in a container. Processing aid. (1) Substance that is added to a food during the processing of such food but is removed in some manner from the food before it is packaged in its finished form; (2) a substance that is added to a food during processing, is converted into constituents normally present in the food, and does not significantly increase the amount of the constituents naturally found in the food; and (3) a substance that is added to a food for its technical or functional effect in the processing but is present in the finished food at insignificant levels and does not have any technical or functional effect in that food.”²

“(1) Substance that is added to a food during the processing of such food but is removed in some manner from the food before it is packaged in its finished form; (2) a substance that is added to a food during processing, is converted into constituents normally present in the food, and does not significantly increase the amount of the constituents naturally found in the food; and (3) a substance that is added to a food for its technical or functional effect in the processing but is present in the finished food at insignificant levels and does not have any technical or functional effect in that food.”²

“A producer, organized as a person, consisting of producer group members and production units in geographic proximity governed by an internal control system under one organic system plan and certification.”²

The makeup of a product by its ingredients, used to determine its labeling category and organic percentage.⁹

The specific recipe of a product, including ingredients and their proportions, used to calculate organic content.²⁴

The list of an operation’s certified products maintained with its certifier.

A submitted description of a product’s formulation and ingredients used in certification review.

A record documenting the ingredients, quantities, and processing for a specific production batch.

The expected reduction in quantity during processing, accounted for when reconciling inputs and outputs.

“A substance the use of which in any aspect of organic production or handling is prohibited or not provided for in the Act or the regulations of this part.”²

Running a quantity of organic product (or allowed material) through equipment and discarding it to flush out residues before organic production.

Quaternary ammonia compounds are a prohibited substance under the USDA organic regulations and therefore organic products cannot come into contact with them.

The export of imported goods out of the country after entry.

A written response an operation submits to contest a notice of proposed adverse action.

A record of incoming shipments capturing supplier, product, quantity, lot, and organic status.

An arrangement under which the United States recognizes a foreign country’s authority to accredit certifiers.

The maintenance of records documenting an operation’s organic activities sufficient to demonstrate compliance and trace product.²⁵

“Any information in written, visual, or electronic form that documents the activities undertaken by a producer, handler, or certifying agent to comply with the Act and regulations in this part.”²

An inspection technique that traces transactions through an operation’s records to verify organic claims.

The steps by which an operation whose certification was suspended seeks to regain certified status.

“An official or validated analytical procedure that detects, identifies, and measures the presence of chemical substances, their metabolites, or degradation products in or on raw or processed agricultural products.”²

“Any person who is a partner, officer, director, holder, manager, or owner of 10 percent or more of the voting stock of an applicant or a recipient of certification or accreditation.”²

A sanitizer allowed only under specific conditions, such as a required potable-water rinse or a residual limit.

A condition in the regulations or on the National List that limits how a substance may be used.³

Sale of products directly to the final consumer.

“Restaurants, delicatessens, bakeries, grocery stores, or any retail business with a restaurant, delicatessen, bakery, salad bar, bulk food self-service station, or other eat-in, carry-out, mail-order, or delivery service of raw or processed agricultural products.”²

The provision under which certain retail operations are exempt from certification.

Packaging in the form in which a product is sold to the final consumer.

An adverse action that ends an operation’s certification; the operation may not sell products as organic until recertified.²⁶

The federal process by which an agency creates or amends regulations, including public notice and comment.

The federal law setting drinking-water quality standards, referenced when evaluating water and certain additives used in handling.

A standardized document describing a material’s composition, hazards, and handling; used to verify that inputs are allowed.

A record of samples kept for potential testing, supporting traceability and fraud investigation.

A substance used to reduce microorganisms on a cleaned surface to safe levels.

The area of operation covered by certification (crop, livestock, wild-crop, or handling).

The specific products, activities, and facilities covered by an operation’s certification, as listed on its certificate.

Retail packaging closed so that tampering is evident, which can allow certain products to move through uncertified handlers.

An audit of a supplier conducted by the buying operation to verify organic and fraud-prevention practices.

“A solid, semisolid, or liquid residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works. Sewage sludge includes but is not limited to: domestic septage; scum or solids removed in primary, secondary, or advanced wastewater treatment processes; and a material derived from sewage sludge. Sewage sludge does not include ash generated during the firing of sewage sludge in a sewage sludge incinerator or grit and screenings generated during preliminary treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment works.”²

Material derived from animal slaughter; under organic regulations, it is strictly prohibited in livestock feed but may be allowed in crop fertilizers or non-feed applications if it meets all National List criteria.²⁷

A substance used to dissolve or extract another; in organic handling its use is limited to allowed materials.

Keeping organic and nonorganic products physically separated by distance, dedicated areas, or barriers.

A supplier document describing an ingredient’s identity, composition, and specifications, used in verification.

“An operation that produces or handles both organic and nonorganic agricultural products.”²

A discretionary, often narrow inspection to check ongoing compliance, sometimes prompted by a complaint or elevated risk.

A written procedure describing how a recurring task is performed consistently and in compliance.

The holding of organic products, ingredients, or inputs under conditions that protect their organic integrity.

A USDA rulemaking that amended 7 CFR Part 205 to strengthen organic oversight, traceability, import controls, and fraud prevention.

An ingredient contained within another ingredient of a product.¹¹

Fraudulently replacing an organic product or ingredient with a nonorganic one while representing it as organic.

A documented process for vetting, approving, and monitoring suppliers of organic ingredients and products.

A documented view of an operation’s suppliers and product flow used to assess and monitor fraud risk.

“The process of identifying and tracking the movement, sale, custody, handling, and organic status of an agricultural product along a supply chain to verify the agricultural product’s compliance with this part.”²

An operation’s voluntary relinquishment of its organic certification.

An adverse action that halts an operation’s certification for a period, pending correction of the underlying problem.²⁶

“A substance that is formulated or manufactured by a chemical process or by a process that chemically changes a substance extracted from naturally occurring plant, animal, or mineral sources, except that such term shall not apply to substances created by naturally occurring biological processes.”²

“A system of relevant laws, regulations, regulatory practices, standards, policies, and procedures that address the certification, production, and handling of organic agricultural products.”²

An outside provider that handles warehousing, distribution, or fulfillment on an operation’s behalf.

Scheduling organic and nonorganic runs at different times, with cleaning between, to prevent commingling.

Minerals required by animals in very small amounts, supplied through feed or premixes.

The ability to follow a product and its ingredients through the operation and supply chain using records.

The period during which an operation prepares for and pursues certification; for handlers this is not a fixed timeframe set by the regulations, unlike the producer land-transition period.

The transfer of product from one conveyance to another during transport.

A party that moves product between locations in the supply chain.

“The act of examining and evaluating all or a portion of the production or handling activities of a certified operation without advance notice to determine compliance with the Act and the regulations in this part.“²

“Background levels of naturally occurring or synthetic chemicals that are present in the soil or present in organically produced agricultural products that are below established tolerances.”¹⁰

A document in which an exempt handler attests to the limited, compliant handling it performs.

A supplier that is not certified organic, whose products or roles must fall within allowed exemptions.

A code, such as a lot number, that uniquely identifies a product or batch for traceability.

The body of federal regulations governing organic production, handling, labeling, and certification in the United States.

Micronutrients added to feed or products; allowed forms are governed by the National List.

An evaluation of where an operation’s supply chain is most exposed to fraud, used to target controls.

A record of product discarded or lost, used to explain differences in a mass-balance reconciliation.

The rule that added water and salt are excluded when calculating the percentage of organically produced ingredients.²⁸

Cleaning that uses water and cleaning agents to remove soil from surfaces.

Product that is partway through processing and not yet finished or packaged.

Association of American Feed Control Officials

Accredited Certifiers Association

Automated Commercial Environment

Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

Agricultural Marketing Service

Chemical Abstracts Service

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Emergency Action Notification

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

Genetically Engineered / Genetically Modified Organism

Harmonized Tariff Code

Material Review Organization

National Organic Program

National Organic Program Import Certificate

National Organic Standards Board

Organic Control Point

Organic Farmers Association

Organic Foods Production Act of 1990

Organic Fraud Prevention Plan

Organic Integrity Database

Office of Inspector General

Organic Integrity Learning Center

Organic Livestock and Poultry Standard

Organic Materials Review Institute

Origin of Livestock Rule

Organic System Plan

Organic Trade Association

Safe Drinking Water Act

Strengthening Organic Enforcement Rule

United States Department of Agriculture

Food and Drug Administration

Environmental Protection Agency

European Union

Certificate of Analysis

Unavoidable residual environmental contamination

Organic Certification Cost Share Program