As of July 1, 2014, organic processed products certified in Korea or in the U.S. may be sold as organic in either country. Under this pact, Korea recognizes USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) as equivalent to Korea’s organic oversight program. The understanding allows processed organic products certified in Korea or in the United States to be sold as organic in either country.

The Organic Trade Association and the U.S. organic industry have worked hard to help make this happen. It’s a win for the organic sectors and for the consumers of both nations. 

Why this agreement matters

• Organic equivalence between the U.S. and Korea reopens this important Asian consumer market for organic processed food products for U.S. organic exporters.
• This historic partnership will create jobs and opportunity for the U.S. organic food and farming sector.
• This agreement reduces duplicative fees and burdensome paperwork while upholding the highest standards of organic oversight.
• Exports are critical for farmers and processors, and good for the U.S. economy.

Resources

The United States and Korea are committed to ensuring that all traded organic processed products meet the terms of the arrangement, retaining their organic integrity from farm to market.

For additional information including variances, exclusions, and labeling details read OTA’s Korea US Equivalency Agreement Backgrounder.

For further details on this agreement, please visit the USDA NOP website.

For an overview of the Korean market, see OTA's Go To Market Report for Korea.