Feb 11, 2021
4 certifiers get NOP director’s award for communication
The USDA recently honored four organic certifiers, giving them the 2021Director’s Award for their “open, consistent and effective communications” with the National Organic Program during 2020.
The agencies “held regular, candid discussions with NOP accreditation managers and auditors on a wide range of issues and day-to-day operations,” according to a newsletter from the NOP, which is part of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service.
“The extra effort by these certifiers gave us practical insights and builds consistency in how certifiers apply the USDA organic regulations to farms and businesses located around the world,” NOP Accreditation Division Director Robert Yang said in the newsletter.
The 2021 National Organic Program Director’s Award winners are:
- Agricultural Services Certified Organic (ASCO) of Salinas, California.
- Certification of Environmental Standards GmbH (CERES) of Happurg, Germany.
- CCOF Certification Services (CCOF) of Santa Cruz, California.
- Midwest Organic Services Association (MOSA) of Viroqua, Wisconsin.
Ten other agencies were previously honored by the NOP for data quality.
The NOP develops and enforces voluntary standards for organically-produced agricultural products sold in the U.S. Operating as a public-private partnership with third party organizations called certifiers, the NOP accredits and oversees certifiers who have inspectors located around the world. Certifiers play a critical role in protecting the USDA organic seal and supporting farmers who integrate biological and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.
More information on organic oversight and enforcement is available on the NOP website.
