---
kind: "section"
citation: "7 U.S.C. § 6516"
title: "7"
title_heading: "Agriculture"
number: "6516"
heading: "Peer review of certifying agents"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/7/6516"
units:
  - "Chapter 94 — Organic Certification"
---

# §6516. Peer review of certifying agents

- (a) **Peer review—** In determining whether to approve an application for accreditation submitted under [section 6514 of this title](/usc/7/6514.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) shall consider a report concerning such applicant that shall be prepared by a peer review panel established under [subsection (b)](#b).
- (b) **Peer review panel—** To assist the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) in evaluating applications under [section 6514 of this title](/usc/7/6514.md), the [Secretary](/usc/7/6502.md?p=20) may establish a panel of not less than three [persons](/usc/7/6502.md?p=16) who have expertise in organic farming and handling methods, to evaluate the [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) governing official or private [person](/usc/7/6502.md?p=16) that is seeking accreditation as a [certifying agent](/usc/7/6502.md?p=3-A) under such section. Not less than two members of such panel shall be [persons](/usc/7/6502.md?p=16) who are not employees of the Department of Agriculture or of the applicable [State](/usc/7/198.md?p=5) government.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–624, title XXI, § 2117, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 3945.)