An organic product is made from materials produced by organic agriculture. Most well-known organic products are organic food items, however clothing and personal care items can also be made with organic agriculture.
Many countries have strict consumer safety regulations to protect consumers from consuming harmful products. These agencies often certify cultivated products as organic. The United States uses USDA certification through the National Organic Program to define products as organic. According to USDA, in order for a product to be considered organic, several standards must be met. The National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances details synthetic and non-synthetic substances that can be used in the process of producing organic products. Operations involving these organic products must be "protecting natural resources, conserving biodiversity, and using only approved substances."
Organic personal care
Unlike food products, the USDA does not regulate the term "organic" as it applies to personal care products. A personal care product can be deemed organic if it contains agricultural ingredients and can meet the USDA organic production standards. Once certified by the USDA it can fall into one of four categories: "100 percent organic", "organic", "made with organic ingredients", or "made with less than 70 percent organic ingredients." A personal care product can only claim they are USDA-certified organic if they meet the qualifications of the USDA.
