---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6507"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6507"
heading: "State organic certification program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6507"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — Organic Certification"
---

# §6507. State organic certification program

- (a) **In general—** The [governing State official](/usc/7/6502.md?p=7) may prepare and submit a plan for the establishment of a [State organic certification program](/usc/7/6502.md?p=21) to the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) for approval. A [State organic certification program](/usc/7/6502.md?p=21) must meet the requirements of this chapter to be approved by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20).
- (b) **Additional requirements—**
  - (1) **Authority—** A [State organic certification program](/usc/7/6502.md?p=21) established under [subsection (a)](#a) may contain more restrictive requirements governing the organic certification of farms and [handling operations](/usc/7/6502.md?p=10) and the production and handling of [agricultural products](/usc/7/6502.md?p=1) that are to be sold or labeled as [organically produced](/usc/7/6502.md?p=15) under this chapter than are contained in the program established by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20).
  - (2) **Content—** Any additional requirements established under [paragraph (1)](#b-1) shall—
    - (A) further the purposes of this chapter;
    - (B) not be inconsistent with this chapter;
    - (C) not be discriminatory towards agricultural commodities [organically produced](/usc/7/6502.md?p=15) in other [States](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) in accordance with this chapter; and
    - (D) not become effective until approved by the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20).
- (c) **Review and other determinations—**
  - (1) **Subsequent review—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) shall review [State organic certification programs](/usc/7/6502.md?p=21) not less than once during each 5-year period following the date of the approval of such programs.
  - (2) **Changes in program—** The [governing State official](/usc/7/6502.md?p=7), prior to implementing any substantive change to programs approved under this subsection, shall submit such change to the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) for approval.
  - (3) **Time for determination—** The [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) shall make a determination concerning any plan, proposed change to a program, or a review of a program not later than 6 months after receipt of such plan, such proposed change, or the initiation of such review.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–624, title XXI, § 2108, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3939.)