NCQM — National Committee for Quality Management

Search NCQM

Industry reference

Agriculture, Grading & Organic Products

Organic certification, agricultural grading, plant health and commercial measurement are separate programs. A quality grade does not establish organic status, and an organic certificate does not replace applicable food safety or import controls.

A product-specific review

Move from scope to evidence

  1. Define the product and activity

    Identify the commodity, production operation, country of origin and intended market claims. Organic production, agricultural grading, plant health and weights and measures have different purposes. Determine which program is relevant before requesting a certificate or attaching a grade to the product.

  2. Connect requirements to evidence

    Connect organic certification or grading evidence to the operation, product and shipment concerned. Review plant import conditions separately where applicable. A quality grade does not establish organic status, and organic certification does not replace food safety controls or admissibility requirements.

  3. Review interfaces and changes

    Maintain traceability through handling, repacking and changes in source. Review the edition and jurisdiction where commercial measurement requirements apply. Keep each program claim bounded to the evidence and authorized conditions rather than presenting USDA involvement as a universal product approval.

5 source profiles

Requirements and technical resources

Review the references relevant to your product and activity. This selected federal collection does not replace a separate review of applicable state, local or contractual requirements.

Federal regulationUSDA APHIS

Plants and Plant Products: APHIS Import Conditions

7 CFR Part 319; commodity-specific conditions and applicable Federal Orders

Plant imports are evaluated for plant-pest risk through commodity- and origin-specific conditions. Part 319 provides quarantine restrictions, while APHIS’s Agricultural Commodity Import Requirements resource identifies operational requirements and applicable Federal Orders. Permits, phytosanitary certificates, treatments and inspection may be required in particular cases. Plant-health admissibility does not establish food labeling compliance, organic certification or approval under another agency’s regulatory program.

Agriculture, Grading & Organic ProductsFood & Beverages

Federal regulationFDA

Produce Safety: Growing, Harvesting, Packing and Holding

21 CFR Part 112

Part 112 establishes minimum practices for covered produce during growing, harvesting, packing and holding. Its coverage depends on the commodity, activities and farm circumstances. Worker hygiene, agricultural water, biological soil amendments, animals, equipment and sprouts receive specific treatment. The amended pre-harvest agricultural-water provisions for non-sprout produce must be distinguished from harvest and post-harvest water requirements.

Food & BeveragesAgriculture, Grading & Organic Products

Government technical standardUSDA AMS

Shell Eggs: USDA Grades and Voluntary Grading Service

United States Standards, Grades, and Weight Classes for Shell Eggs (AMS 56); 7 CFR Part 56

USDA shell-egg grades provide a common description of quality and weight under the AMS grading framework. Grade AA, A and B refer to defined quality characteristics and tolerances rather than nutritional superiority or an absence of pathogens. The voluntary official grading service involves USDA supervision and controlled use of the grademark. Grade, size and food-safety obligations should be evaluated separately.

Meat, Poultry & Egg ProductsAgriculture, Grading & Organic Products

Federal regulationUSDA AMS

USDA Organic: Production, Handling and Certification

7 CFR Part 205

The National Organic Program establishes requirements for products sold, labeled or represented as organic. Part 205 covers production and handling practices, permitted materials, labeling, certification and oversight. Certification applies to a defined operation and scope, with limited exemptions. Strengthening Organic Enforcement expanded supply-chain oversight, including certification and import-certificate requirements. Organic status does not replace food-safety, plant-health or other applicable market requirements.

Agriculture, Grading & Organic ProductsFood & Beverages

Government technical standardNIST

Weighing and Measuring Device Requirements

NIST Handbook 44, 2026 edition

NIST Handbook 44 provides specifications, tolerances and technical requirements for weighing and measuring devices. The 2026 edition is a technical reference for commercial measurement. Practical application depends on the device category and the edition or provisions adopted by the responsible jurisdiction, making adoption status an essential part of a device requirements review.

Agriculture, Grading & Organic ProductsFood & BeveragesIndustrial Machinery & Electrical EquipmentGovernment Procurement & Technical Supply

Build a defensible review record

Identify the product configuration, the controlling provision and edition, the evidence required and the person authorized to make the decision. Keep a reason for exclusions and unresolved questions alongside confirmed requirements.

Revisit the record when design, materials, suppliers, software, claims or the applicable source changes. An earlier report remains useful only to the extent that it supports the current configuration and requirement.

Practice guidance