Organic supply chains are increasingly complex, leading to documented cases of fraud and oversight gaps. To address these issues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) has introduced the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) Final Rule.

Starting March 19, 2024, importers of organic products must submit a NOP certificate with every shipment to enhance transparency. Following this official ruling, if your product is conventionally grown, to prevent any confusion or delays in shipments, we highly recommend that the organic status of the product be explicitly stated on the pro forma or commercial invoice.

Furthermore, the USDA has made efforts to assign harmonized tariff numbers (HTS) for many products subject to the new requirements, differentiating between organic and non-organic versions of the same product. It is important to verify and accurately state the correct tariff number for your product on your shipping documents, as many HTS numbers have recently been updated.

Compliance is crucial to avoid disruptions, and we’re here to assist with any questions or concerns.

For further information, we have a webinar taking place on February 28th, at 2:00pm to cover these changes and address any questions. Click here to register.