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Organic Certification

Organic Certification. In Tennessee. National Organic Program. NOP established national standards for organically labeled products. USDA approves organizations or persons to become "certifying agents"

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Organic Certification

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  1. Organic Certification In Tennessee

  2. National Organic Program • NOP established national standards for organically labeled products. • USDA approves organizations or persons to become "certifying agents" • Certifying agents certify that production and handling practices meet the national standards. • Producers or handlers who sell $5000 of product per year labeled or represented as "organic" must be certified. • www.ams.usda.gov/nop/

  3. The Basis for National Standards • 1990 - Organic Foods Production Act - part of the 1990 Farm Bill. • 1993 - USDA appoints National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). • 1996 - NOSB completes recommendations. • 1997 - USDA publishes first proposal • 275,000 comments let USDA know it needs more work • March, 2000 – USDA’s 2nd proposal • 40,000 more comments • December, 2000 – USDA’s Final Rule

  4. Definition of Organic Production-from USDA final rule • “…A system that responds to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.”

  5. I used to eat a lot of natural food, until I learned that most people dieof natural causes.

  6. Certification Procedure • Producer purchases "Certification Application Packet" from accredited certifying agent of their choice.

  7. Certification Application Packet Includes • Certification Handbook • Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Manuals of materials allowed, restricted and prohibited for use in organic production • Application(s) for Certification

  8. 2. Producer pays applicable fees and submits completed application which includes: • History of substances applied to the land for the previous three years, • Organic products being grown or processed, • Organic plan, which includes practices and substances used in production (Must keep post-certification records on production, harvesting, and handling for five years.)

  9. Certifying agent reviews application for certification eligibility. • Inspector, assigned by certifying agent, conducts on-site inspection of the applicant's operation. • Certifying agent reviews the information submitted by the applicant and the inspector's report.  If review and inspection show compliance with the requirements, the agent will issue a certificate.

  10. USDA NOP seal

  11. Three Labeling Categories • “100% Organic” (may use USDA and/or certifier seal) • “Organic” (may use USDA and/or certifier seal) • At least 95% organic ingredients • Remaining 5% must be on the “National List”. • Must use organic ingredients if commercially available. • “Made with Organic (Ingredients)” (may use certifier seal) • From 95% to 70% of the ingredients must be organic. • No GMOs, sewage sludge, or irradiation allowed for any of these categories.

  12. Notes about Certification • Producers who sell less than $5,000 per year are not required to be certified • Certified operations must submit updated organic plan, pay fees, and be re-inspected each year. • USDA or the certifying agent may conduct unannounced inspections at any time to enforce the regulations. • Certifying agents or USDA will conduct residue tests of organic products if there is reason to believe that products have been contaminated with prohibited substances.

  13. Violations • If your organic certification agency finds just cause, certification can and will be suspended or revoked. • Any person who knowingly violates the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) can be fined up to $10,000 per violation. (representing product as organic without certification is an example violation)

  14. USDA’s Role • Accreditation of State and Private Certifiers (domestic or foreign). • Enforcement and Compliance. • Equivalency negotiations with international organic regulatory organizations, allowing organic products from the US to be recognized worldwide.

  15. Web Sales Give a person a fish and you feed them for aday; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

  16. Organic Certification Cost-Share Program - Tennessee • The state, using funds from the USDA, will reimburse each eligible producer or handler for up to 75% of organic certification costs, not to exceed $500.

  17. For Further Information • USDA NOP • www.ams.usda.gov/NOP • Contains list of certifying agents, FAQs, the USDA NOP standards, cost-share information. • OMRI – Organic Materials Review Institute • Lists of products allowed, restricted, and prohibited for use in organic crop and livestock production as well as food processing • www.omri.org

  18. For Further Information • QCS – Quality Certification Services • Offers affordable organic certification throughout the South, and has a sample application for certification on their website • www.qcsinfo.org • ATTRA • Arkansas extension service for sustainable agriculture – offer hundreds of free publications related to sustainable and organic production • www.attra.org

  19. Thank You • Questions

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