The United States (U.S.) has an organic equivalence arrangement with the Republic of Korea (South Korea) for organic processed foods. The equivalence arrangement grants USDA certified organic products access to South Korea’s market and grants South Korea’s certified organic products access to the U.S. market. This means that products certified to either the USDA or South Korea organic standards may be labeled and sold as organic in either country, as long as the products meet the terms of the arrangement.
Scope. This equivalence arrangement is limited to country-to-country trade. For U.S. exports to South Korea, it is limited to products certified to the USDA organic regulations that have had their final processing occur within the U.S. For South Korea exports to the U.S., it is limited to products certified to the South Korea organic regulations that have had their final processing occur in South Korea.
Allowed product categories: Processed Products - as defined by the Korean Food Code (see the ‘Questions and Answers’ document linked below, or download the zip file, open Chapter 1, and find the definition of “Processed food” under Part 3, Explanations of Terms). Products must contain at least 95% organic content.
Terms of the Arrangement. Generally, USDA and South Korea certified organic processed products are eligible for trade under this equivalence, but there are some stipulations:
- Agricultural products derived from animals treated with antibiotics shall not be sold, labeled, or represented as organic in the U.S.
- “Made With Organic” (MWO) products are not covered under the arrangement; all organic products exported under the arrangement must be 95% organic content or greater.
Trade Documentation.
Exports of USDA Organic Products. Products exported to South Korea under the arrangement must be accompanied by a NAQS Import Certificate of Organic Processed Foods. The NAQS Import Certificate must be issued by Korea’s e-NAQS Import Certificate System. For questions about the e-NAQS Import Certificate System or for assistance creating a user account, contact Korea’s help desk at: naqshelpdesk@korea.kr. View the NAQS Import Certificate and Instructions.
U.S. operations should inform their USDA-accredited certifying agent that they wish to ship products to Korea. Certifying agents issue the NAQS Import Certificate in the e-NAQS system and provide a printed copy of the form to the operator to accompany the shipment at the port of entry. The documentation must include this statement:
“Certified in compliance with the terms of the U.S.-Korea Organic Equivalency Arrangement.”
U.S. Imports of South Korea Organic Products. Products imported to the U.S. under the arrangement must be associated with an electronic organic import certificate, called the NOP Import Certificate. Import certificates can be generated by a Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA)-accredited certification body in the NOP's Organic Integrity Database. The documentation must include this statement:
“Certified in compliance with the terms of the U.S.-Korea Organic Equivalency Arrangement.”
Labeling.
Exports of USDA Organic Products. U.S. products traded under the arrangement must be labeled according to MAFRA’s organic labeling requirements and may display the Korean organic food label and/or USDA organic seal. Korean labeling requirements | Korean Organic Seal (links open zip files on Korean website)
U.S. Imports of South Korea Organic Products. Korean products traded under the arrangement must be labeled according to USDA organic labeling requirements and may display the USDA organic seal and/or Korean organic food label. Organic Labeling | USDA Organic Seal
Oversight. The NOP and the National Agricultural Products Quality Management Service (NAQS) assess each other’s systems on a regular basis to ensure that the terms of the arrangement are being met and equivalence is maintained. Both parties notify each other of any changes which could affect the terms of the arrangement. Any concerns are addressed by the Organic Working Group, which includes experts from both countries that meet regularly.
Peer Reviews. Since the establishment of the U.S.-Korea Equivalence Arrangement, the NOP and NAQS have conducted mutual peer reviews. These assessments verify that both markets are meeting the terms of the arrangement.
Peer Review Reports:
- 2022 US Peer Review Report of Republic of Korea (pdf)
- 2016 Republic of Korea Peer Review Report of U.S. (pdf)
Historical Documents
Equivalency announcement: Press Release
Equivalency arrangement: Letter to Korea (pdf) | Letter to the U.S. (pdf)
Resources