((a)) ** In general** The Secretary shall establish and implement a program to accredit a governing State official, and any private person, that meets the requirements of this section as a certifying agent for the purpose of certifying a farm or handling operation as a certified organic farm or handling operation.

((b)) ** Requirements** To be accredited as a certifying agent under this section, a governing State official or private person shall—

((1)) prepare and submit, to the Secretary, an application for such accreditation;

((2)) have sufficient expertise in organic farming and handling techniques as determined by the Secretary; and

((3)) comply with the requirements of this section and .

((c)) ** Additional documentation and verification** The Secretary, acting through the Deputy Administrator of the national organic program established under this chapter, has the authority, and shall grant a certifying agent the authority, to require producers and handlers to provide additional documentation or verification before granting a certification under , in the case of a compliance risk with respect to meeting the national standards for organic production established under , as determined by the Secretary or the certifying agent.section 6503 of this titlesection 6504 of this title

((d)) ** Accreditation of foreign organic certification program**

((1)) ** In general** For an agricultural product being imported into the United States to be represented as organically produced, the Secretary shall require the agricultural product to be accompanied by a complete and valid national organic import certificate, which shall be available as an electronic record.

((2)) ** Tracking system**

((A)) ** In general** The Secretary shall establish a system to track national organic import certificates.

((B)) ** Integration** In establishing the system under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may integrate the system into any existing information tracking systems for imports of agricultural products.

((e)) ** Duration of accreditation** An accreditation made under this section—

((1)) subject to paragraph (2), shall be for a period of not more than 5 years, as determined appropriate by the Secretary;

((2)) in the case of a certifying agent operating in a foreign country, shall be for a period of time that is consistent with the certification of a domestic certifying agent, as determined appropriate by the Secretary; and

((3)) may be renewed.