Jul 1, 2020
Sunset dates, and two other certification notes from NOP

The USDA National Organic Program logoFrom California to India, the details of organic certification are constantly-changing.

The National Organic Program (NOP) recently made several announcements about certification matters.

Here are those updates: 

Organic Certification in California

The NOP recently updated Policy Memo 11-8 to clarify the added registration requirements under the California State Organic Program for organic producers, handlers, and processors operating in the state. Affected operations may now provide documentation to their certifiers verifying they registered with the California Department of Public Health. This will allow certifiers to issue USDA organic certifications faster, without waiting for the state organic program’s registration process to be complete.

National List Sunset Dates

NOP recently published an updated version of NOP 5611, documenting a new sunset date of June 22, 2025 for National List materials renewed effective June 22, 2020.

India requires a certificate of inspection for exports to the U.S.

The NOP reminds certifiers and importers that India requires a Certificate of Inspection for the export of organic products to the United States. The Certificate is to be issued by a government-accredited certification agent via India’s TraceNet system. This final export transaction certificate is provided to the U.S. importer to validate the organic status and volume of the exported products.

All certified operations receiving organic products exported from India are to obtain the Certificate of Inspection to verify organic status, in accordance with 7 CFR § 205.103, Recordkeeping for Certified Operations. U.S. organic regulations require certified operations to maintain records concerning the production, harvesting, and handling of organic agricultural products; and to make such records available to their certifying agent.

The NOP considers these Certificate of Inspection an essential record to demonstrate good control processes for businesses importing organic products from India.

Additional information about this requirement is available on the NOP webpage for organic trade with India: www.ams.usda.gov/services/organic-certification/international-trade/India.


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