---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6504"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6504"
heading: "National standards for organic production"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6504"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — Organic Certification"
---

# §6504. National standards for organic production


To be sold or labeled as an [organically produced](/usc/7/6502.md?p=15) [agricultural product](/usc/7/6502.md?p=1) under this chapter, an [agricultural product](/usc/7/6502.md?p=1) shall—

- (1) have been produced and handled without the use of [synthetic](/usc/7/6502.md?p=22) chemicals, except as otherwise provided in this chapter;
- (2) except as otherwise provided in this chapter and excluding [livestock](/usc/7/6502.md?p=11), not be produced on land to which any prohibited substances, including [synthetic](/usc/7/6502.md?p=22) chemicals, have been applied during the 3 years immediately preceding the harvest of the [agricultural products](/usc/7/6502.md?p=1); and
- (3) be produced and handled in compliance with an [organic plan](/usc/7/6502.md?p=14) agreed to by the [producer](/usc/7/6502.md?p=19) and [handler](/usc/7/6502.md?p=9) of such product and the [certifying agent](/usc/7/6502.md?p=3-A).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–624, title XXI, § 2105, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3937; Pub. L. 102–237, title X, § 1001(1), Dec. 13, 1991, 105 Stat. 1893.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1991—Par. (2). Pub. L. 102–237 substituted “; and” for period at end.