[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 7, Volume 3]
[Revised as of January 1, 2002]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 7CFR205.500]

[Page 406]
 
                          TITLE 7--AGRICULTURE
 
 CHAPTER I--AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SERVICE \1\ (STANDARDS, INSPECTIONS, 
       MARKETING PRACTICES), DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (CONTINUED)
 
PART 205--NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM--Table of Contents
 
              Subpart F--Accreditation of Certifying Agents
 
Sec. 205.500  Areas and duration of accreditation.


    (a) The Administrator shall accredit a qualified domestic or foreign 
applicant in the areas of crops, livestock, wild crops, or handling or 
any combination thereof to certify a domestic or foreign production or 
handling operation as a certified operation.
    (b) Accreditation shall be for a period of 5 years from the date of 
approval of accreditation pursuant to Sec. 205.506.
    (c) In lieu of accreditation under paragraph (a) of this section, 
USDA will accept a foreign certifying agent's accreditation to certify 
organic production or handling operations if:
    (1) USDA determines, upon the request of a foreign government, that 
the standards under which the foreign government authority accredited 
the foreign certifying agent meet the requirements of this part; or
    (2) The foreign government authority that accredited the foreign 
certifying agent acted under an equivalency agreement negotiated between 
the United States and the foreign government.