Congress passed the Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) of 1990. The OFPA required the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to develop national standards for organically produced agricultural products to assure consumers that agricultural products marketed as organic meet consistent, uniform standards. The OFPA and the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations require that agricultural products labeled as organic originate from farms or handling operations certified by a State or private entity that has been accredited by USDA.

The NOP is a marketing program housed within the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service. Neither the OFPA nor the NOP regulations address food safety or nutrition.

The ARC Branch conducts independent, third-party accreditation assessments for the NOP. These assessments are conducted in accordance with ARC 1000 Procedure and as directed by the NOP according to ARC 1025 Procedure. Certification agencies can refer to the NOP Accreditation Audit Checklist for further guidance. Fees for service are charged according to the approved hourly rate published in the Federal Register.