Organic Program

Organic certification verifies that producers or handling facilities comply with organic regulations and allows producers to sell, label, and represent their products as organic. The Montana Department of Agriculture Organic Program certifies producers and handlers of organic crops and provides export inspections services.

Does my Business Need Organic Certification?

All crops or products that are sold, labeled, or represented as organic must be certified unless the operation is exempt or excluded from certification.

Examples of exempt and excluded operations include: 

• Operations that gross less than $5,000 annually from organic products.
• Retail food establishments.
• Handlers that produce products with less than 70% organic ingredients.
• Handlers that produce products with organic claims limited to the information panel, or ingredient list only.

The USDA National Organic Program has developed a factsheet to help businesses determine if they need to be certified.

Organic Certification Process

There are five steps to organic certification. New applicants may be submitted at anytime, but well before harvest.

1. Read the most recent version of the NOP standards.
2. Submit completed application forms and applicable fees to MTDA (March 15 ^th for producers or September 15 ^th for handlers).
3. MTDA will review your application to determine compliance to the NOP standards and provide an estimate of your certification costs for the year.
4. MTDA will schedule an on-site inspection of your operation.
5. MTDA will conduct a final review of your application and inspection materials to complete the certification process.

Please click on the panels below for more information on organic certification.

The eight-member Montana Organic Commodity Advisory Committee advises the department on the operation of the state's Organic Certification Program. Under   Montana administrative rules, the department director serves on the committee, along with certified organic producers, a certified organic handler, and a consumer representative.

National Organic Program Code of Federal Regulations

• National Organic Program Regulations 

Montana Rules & Code: Organic program

• Montana Code Annotated (MCA) Title 80, Chapter 11
• Administrative Rules of Montana (ARM) 4.17