National Organic Program: In 2002, with the growth of products being labelled as ‘organic’ across the United States, the USDA (United States Dept of Agriculture) ruled that a base market definition of organic was needed. It launched the National Organic Program (NOP) to define organic standards and enforce them through federal law.

NOP or National Organic Program is a federal regulatory program that develops and enforces consistent national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States. NOP also accredits third-party organizations to certify that farms and businesses meet the national organic standards. These certifiers and USDA work together to enforce the standards, ensuring a level playing field for producers and protecting consumer confidence in the integrity of the USDA Organic Seal.