Help Center

#Certification Manuals

The Oregon Tilth Certified Organic Procedures Manual provides a comprehensive overview of the certification program, from application through inspection. It provides details on our policies for enforcement actions and expectations and requirements for all certified clients.

#USDA National Organic Program and personal care products

What is the USDA National Organic Program (NOP)?

The 1990 Organic Foods Production Act created the USDA NOP and a single set of rules that govern the production, labeling and marketing of organic products in the U.S.

To become certified to this standard, personal care product operators must undergo a thorough evaluation and review by a USDA-accredited third-party certifier like OTCO.

Can I certify my personal care product to the NOP?

Yes. A personal care product is eligible for review under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) standards. The product cannot contain unapproved non-food ingredients or use different, unapproved manufacturing processes than allowed for organic food products.

What organic claims can I make with the NOP standard?

USDA NOP certified organic products claim categories are: “100 percent organic,” “organic” and “made with organic” depending on the percentage of organic content in your product(s).

What non-organic ingredients are allowed for NOP products?

If you want to use any non-agricultural ingredients, they must be listed on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances for approved use. All non-agricultural ingredients not listed for approved use disqualify your eligibility for USDA NOP certification but allow you to pursue NSF/ANSI 305 certification.

#USDA National Organic Program

What information do I need to have on my organic label?

There is certain information all USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified products must have on their labels:

• An ingredient statement (when the product has multiple ingredients)
• The name and address of the handler of the finished product
• The certification agent of the handler (“Certified organic by Oregon Tilth”) listed below the handler information

Where can I find the logos I need for my label?

You can download the USDA organic seal on the USDA NOP website. Variations of the Oregon Tilth seal approved for use are on our Help Center.

What information can I choose to have on my label?

As an OTCO-certified organic processor or handler, you may use the USDA NOP organic seal as well as choose from a number of our logos. Please note that the Oregon Tilth logo may never be displayed more prominently than the USDA seal.

For other label claims, you’ll need to calculate your product’s percentage of organic content. Depending on your product’s percentage of organic content, you may (or may not) make certain organic claims on specific parts of your product label.

• 100% Organic = 100% organic ingredients
• Organic = 95% or more organic ingredients
• Made with Organic = 70% or more organic ingredients

Our Organic Labeling and Composition Guide provides a quick reference for all of your labeling questions, from bulk labeled single ingredient products to complicated multi-ingredient processed products.

Can I change the color, fonts or shape of the Oregon Tilth logo?

No modifications to the Oregon Tilth Certified Organic logo are allowed.

Can I use/print labels prior to approval?

We recommend submitting your labels to OTCO before you print them — even if the change was small. Printing an unapproved label could result in a costly reprinting and repackaging job. Selling products with unapproved labels could jeopardize your certification.

Once you have finalized your label composition, submit it to OTCO for review and approval.