The National Organic Program (NOP) implements, handles, develops, administers national production and sets labeling standards for organic agricultural products. It also accredits foreign and domestic certifying agents who inspect the production of organic products and handles operations certifying that they meet USDA standards.

In 1990, the Organic Foods Production Act was implemented requiring the Secretary of Agriculture to launch a National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances that identifies which synthetic substances can be used and non-synthetic substances that may not be used in handling operations and organic production.