Organic Certification

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Organic Certification
Peggy McKie Nevada Department of
Agriculture pgmckie_at_govmail.state.nv.us
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National Organic Standards

• Administered by USDA through the National Organic
  Program
• Certification only though USDA-accredited
  certification agents
• Provides third party confirmation of organic
  integrity
• Standardized requirements, labeling

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Purpose of Certification

• Track organic product from production through
  processing to the final sale.
• Support consumer confidence in the meaning of the
  organic label.

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Who Must Certify?

• Operations or portions of operations that
  produce or handle agricultural products that are
  intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as
  "100 percent organic," "organic," or made with
  organic ingredients.

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Who Should Not Certify

• Dont like inspectors on your property or in your
  business
• Think record-keeping is a four-letter word
• Doing it for the money
• Dont know how or dont want to learn how to
  comply with requirements
• Believe that clients will flock to your door
  without any effort on your part just because of
  the O word.

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Steps to Certification

• First - decide if organic certification is
  appropriate
• for your business, your market, and
• your management style then
• Select a certifier
• Submit application and organic system plan
• Documents reviewed by certifier
• On-site Inspection / re-inspection
• Inspection report review
• Certification

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Select a Certifier

• Determine where you want to market your products
  locally, nationally, internationally
• Any USDA-accredited certification agent
• Nevada Department of Agriculture
• Private or non-profit certifiers

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Request and Submit an Application

• Completed application (Organic System Plan)
• Application fee (varies)
• Additional documentation as required
• (maps, affidavits, labels, ingredient lists)

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Application Crop Production

• Organic System Plan
• Written plans and relevant information concerning
  all aspects of your farming operation.

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Application Livestock Production

• Organic system plan includes
• Source of animals
• Feed and feed supplements
• Housing and living conditions (access to
  out-of-doors and pasture for ruminants)
• Health care practices
• Record keeping practices
• Labeling

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Application Handling Operations

• Organic System Plan Includes
• Sources of ingredients
• SOP for cleaning, sanitation, pest control
• Protection of organic integrity (co-mingling and
  contamination)
• Packaging
• Record keeping
• Product formulations
• Labeling

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Review of Application by Certifier

• Completeness
• Assess capacity to operate under NOP requirements
• On-site inspection arranged

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The Organic Inspection

• Prior to original certification
• Annually thereafter
• Verifies accuracy of application information
• Record keeping system reviewed
• Risk assessment with regard to prohibited
  materials
• Field/facility inspection
• Inspector does not make the certification
  decision.

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Certifier Reviews Inspection Report

• Determines if operation is eligible for
  certification
• May require additional information
• May require remediation to bring minor
  non-compliances into compliance
• Significant non-compliances may result in denial
  of certification

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Certification Issued

• Certification is issued
• Sales of organic products can begin
• Use of USDA/certifiers logo is optional
• Annual inspection is required
• Certification continues until surrendered,
  suspended or revoked.

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NDOA Organic Certification Program

• Certification services since 1997
• Accredited by USDA in 2002
• 20 Producers
• 2 Producer/Handlers
• 6 Handlers

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NDOA Certification Fees

• 75.00 plus gross income assessment
• Inspection fee of 30.00/hour (on-site time)
• Annual update fee 50.00 plus gross income
  assessment plus inspection fee
• Gross income assessment 15.00 - 2,500.00
  (1,000,000.00)

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Getting Started

• www.ams.usda.gov/nop
• www.agri.state.nv.us
• www.omri.org
• www.attra.ncat.org
• Talk to certified organic farmers or processors!
  (www.agri.state.nv.us/organic)