“Created in Congress under encouragement both from the consuming public and from independent Organic certifying agencies, the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 gave rise to the National Organic Program (NOP) which, after a false start or two, finally went into full effect in October of 2002. Its purpose is to provide a uniform set of standards that growers, processors, packagers and warehouse operators can follow in producing food that is to be marketed as Organic. The NOP also supplies a set of guidelines that Certifying Agents, who are responsible for ensuring compliance with the Program, must follow. Under the NOP, handlers of food can become Certified, and can display the word “Organic” and the USDA Organic logo on their products.”
Jay C. Bruesch
Plunkett’s Pest Control, Inc