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Timeline of Organic Milestones
U.S. Organic
Milestones
International
Milestones
April 2000
USDA’s Economic Research Service releases a major study on the status of organics in the United States showing that certified organic crop land more than doubled during the 1990s and that some organic livestock sectors–eggs and dairy–grew even faster.
March 2000
USDA releases the second proposed National Organic Program (NOP). The Secretary of Agriculture announces other initiatives to stimulate the U.S. organic sector: organic research, pilot projects on crop insurance and marketing orders and market news reporting for organic fruits and vegetables.
1999
Japan begins to develop a national standard for organic production.
Canada announces a voluntary national organic standard.
Codex Alimentarius, a joint commission of the Food and Agriculture Organization and the World Health Organization of the United Nations, approves international guidelines for the production, processing, labeling and marketing of organic foods.
The United Kingdom (U.K.) doubles assistance for farmers converting to organic production by spring, part of a package to increase by £2 million ($1.2 million) annually funding for research and resources for advising farmers on the practicalities of conversion.
June 1999
The Organic Trade Association (OTA) receives $75,230 in Market Access Program funds to help exports of U.S. organic products.
USDA begins a voluntary, fee-based ISO-65 program for U.S. state and private organic certifiers. ISO-65 is an international standard pertaining to good business practices (e.g., documentation, record-keeping, application and evaluation processes, oversight and personnel) in any certification system.
May 1999
Minnesota passes the Organic Agriculture Promotion and Education Act to encourage organic agriculture, the first U.S. legislation to authorize an organic certification cost-share program.
January 1999
USDA permits certain meat and poultry products to carry the label "certified organic."
1998
Although U.K. farmers convert over 20,000 hectares (49,400 acres) to organics, area still lags well below the amount needed to satisfy the country’s burgeoning demand.
May 1998
Iowa passes the Organic Agricultural Products Act (replacing 1988 legislation), mandating a program to certify producers, handlers and processors of agricultural products labeled, sold or advertised as "organic."
1997
USDA releases the first proposed NOP and receives a record 275,000 comments on numerous issues, including considerable opposition to the use of genetic engineering, irradiation and sewage sludge in organic production.
1994
A USDA study indicates 1.13 million U.S. acres are devoted to certified organic production.
The U.S. state-regional trade groups sponsor the first U.S. trade mission of organic suppliers to Japan. The state-regionals sponsor missions to Japan each year thereafter, and add missions to Europe in 1999 and 2000.
1992
Japan issues voluntary organic labeling guidelines.
1991
The European Union adopts organic regulations.
Austria grants subsidies to encourage growers to convert to organic production; Austria also sets organic livestock standards, another first.
1990
Organic retail sales reach $1 billion in the United States. U.S. Congress passes the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, requiring USDA to develop national standards and regulations for organically produced agricultural products.
1988
Washington becomes the first state to develop organic standards and implement an organic certification program. Today, 13 states have such programs: Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Texas, Washington.
1988
USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program is established, providing competitive grants to support sustainable and organic research.
1984
The Organic Foods Production Association of North America, later the OTA, is established to represent North America’s growing organic sector.
1983
Austria becomes the first country in the world to set official guidelines for organic farming.
1973
California Certified Organic Farmers is founded, the first organization to certify organic farms in North America.
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