I am a clothing designer
using organic cotton for my pieces. My manufacturer uses USDA certified organic
cotton and I want to know if their certification will pass along to me? Can I
market my clothing as USDA certified organic or do I need to apply for my own
certification from the USDA?
No. Certification does
not "pass along" or accompany the clothing. You also need to apply
for certification and must contact a certifying agent.
Is it possible to certify a wood
product as organic?
No. There are no standards for the
certification of wood as organic under the NOP regulations at this time.
Is wool covered under the NOP? Flax?
Any fiber?
Yes. Wool, cotton, and flax are
considered inedible fibers and are covered by the NOP regulations.
Does “made with organic cotton”
clothing have to be made from NOP-certified organic cotton?
Yes.
May the NOP seal be used on organic
cotton textiles?
Yes, if the production and handling
complies with all NOP regulations.
If cotton that was raised organically
but then treated pursuant to import requirements into the US, can it still be
considered organic for the purposes of making “made with organic” clothing?
The cotton might be organic, but
only if the treatment is an allowed substance on the NOP National List.
Otherwise, the cotton has been treated with a prohibited substance, is no
longer considered organic, and may not be used for the production of products
“made with organic cotton.”
FTC regulations allow special fiber
content claims to be made at the 5% threshold level. Can I label my clothing
“made with organic cotton” if they only have 5% organic cotton?
No. The NOP regulations require at
least 70% certified organic content for products to be labeled as “made with
organic [ingredients].
If NOP product also meets a foreign
organic standard, is it a violation of the NOP regulations to say it meets the
foreign organic standard on the product?
No. Truthful label claims are
allowed under the National Organic Program regulations.
Can conventional sheep be managed
organically for 1 year and then be used for organic wool production?
No. The 1-year livestock conversion
only applies to dairy animals’ eligibility to produce organic milk. All other
livestock must be managed organically from the last third of gestation.
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