Importing & Exporting Organic Products Between the U.S. and Korea
How To Import & Export Organic Products Between the U.S. and Korea
Summary: Under the U.S.–Korea organic equivalency arrangement, only processed organic products with more than 95% organic content are eligible for trade.
Imports to the U.S. from Korea must include an NOP Import Certificate and follow USDA labeling rules.
Exports from the U.S. to Korea must be processed in the U.S., meet MAFRA’s labeling requirements, and include a NAQS Import Certificate.
Unprocessed products are not covered under this agreement and must be certified to Korean standards.
Importing Organic Products to the U.S. from Korea
Eligible products:
Only processed organic products containing more than 95% organic ingredients are covered under the U.S.–Korea equivalency arrangement.
Import requirements:
- Product must be certified by a MAFRA-accredited certification body in Korea.
- A USDA NOP Import Certificate is required for every shipment.
- Product labeling must meet USDA organic labeling rules.
- Products may display the USDA organic seal, the Korean organic food label, or both.
Exporting Organic Products to Korea from the U.S.
Eligible products:
Only USDA organic processed products (as defined by the Korean Food Code) that contain at least 95% organic ingredients may be exported under the equivalency arrangement.
Unprocessed products:
Not eligible under the U.S.–Korea arrangement.
To export raw or unprocessed organic products to Korea, the product must be certified to Korean organic standards.
Export requirements:
- Final processing and packaging must occur in the United States.
- Products may display:
- The USDA Organic seal,
- The Korean organic label,
- Or both.
- Labels must meet the Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) requirements.
- Each shipment must include a load-specific NAQS Import Certificate to clear Korean customs.
Export Certificate Requests
How to request a hard copy of the NAQS Import Certificate:
- Provide a shipping address and a carrier account number (FedEx, UPS, DHL).
- Include the recipient\’s name and phone number.
- If using UPS, include the ZIP code for billing.
Need it expedited?
Yes, expedited services are available. Please state your request clearly in your email.
📄 Forms & Documents for Korea:
Send all requests to: export@tilth.org
Technical Notes and Tips
- Only processed products are included in this bilateral equivalency arrangement.
- Any product outside the scope (like fresh produce or bulk grain) requires full Korean organic certification.
- Make sure to submit export requests early to avoid shipping delays.
- OTCO must issue the NAQS certificate prior to export.