Resources
Resources
Here you will find links to regulations, guides, logos and more!
Feel free to call us at (805) 684-6494 or email info@occert.com for more information.
In order to sell, label, or represent products as organic, operations must follow all of the specifications set out by United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) standards. USDA-Accredited certification agencies, such as Organic Certifiers Inc, ensure the all organic crops, livestock, and agricultural products are in compliance with the regulations.
USDA's National Organic Program Regulations
Organic Certification News & Alerts
Useful Sites & Guides
General
Organic Certifiers Procedures Manual
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List of Fraudulent Certificates
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USDA Organic Becoming a Certified Operation
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Crops & Wild Crops Guides
Handlers/Processors Guides
USDA Guide for Organic Processors
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Cleaners and Sanitizers Guidance for Organic Operations
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Organic Integrity in the Supply Chain: Training for Certified Handlers
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Dairy & Livestock Guides
USDA Guide for Organic Crop Producers
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A Guide for Conventional Farmers Transitioning to Organic
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Substances and ingredients for use in organic crop, livestock and processed organic product production can be found in the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. Ingredients and materials intended for use in organic production must always be produced without the use of GMOs, ionizing radiation, and sewage sludge.
USDA's National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Want to search for certified organic farms or businesses?
Check out the USDA's Organic INTEGRITY Database here.
Understanding The USDA Organic Label
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Placement of Certifier Statement
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OC Labeling Guide: 100% Organic
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OC Labeling Guide: "Made W/ Organic"
Logos
Labeling Guides
Specific parameters must be followed in order correctly display the USDA Organic Seal on product packaging and marketing material. Click here to learn more and to download versions of the USDA Seal.
Clients may use Certifier Seal. **Must not be individually displayed more prominently than the USDA Organic Seal. Click here to download versions of the logo.
Clients may use Certifier Seal. **Must not be individually displayed more prominently than the USDA Organic Seal. If this logo is being used to fulfill the "Certification Statement" requirement, then it must be located below the handling or distributing information. Click here to download versions of the logo.
Additional Resources
General
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Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
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Responsibilities of Operations Changing Certifiers
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International Trade
OC Export Certificate Request Form
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US-Canada Equivalency Agreement
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US-European Union Equivalency Agreement
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US-Israel Recognition Agreement
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US-Japan Equivalence Arrangement
US-Korea Equivalence Arrangement
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US-New Zealand Recognition Agreement
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US-Switzerland Equivalency Agreement
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US-Taiwan Equivalence Arrangement
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Feel free to call us at (805) 684-6494 or email info@occert.com for more information.
Need more help? Connect with an Organic Consultant!
Here is list of a few industry experts to reach out to:
Bill Brosseau
Winemaker, Organic Winegrower, Consultant
Pebble Beach, CA
800-537-9317
bill@brosseauwines.com
Bill Brosseau has been involved with vineyards his entire life. In addition to studies at UC Davis, he has worked for famed wineries spanning Napa to Monterey County. Bill started the journey of learning organic farming practices in 2006 and by 2007 converted his family’s home ranch to organic. When the 2007 Chardonnay received the top domestic Chardonnay award from Wine and Spirits magazine that year, Bill knew he was heading in the right direction. Since then, he has been carefully navigating the path for vineyard owners transitioning to organic methods and achieving higher wine quality. Bill regards himself as a personal trainer for your vineyard and helping ownership maintain steady dedication during the transition to certified organic.
Cara Smiley
Integrated Organic Services, Inc.
Oaxaca, Mexico
(+52) 951-228-3386
www.integratedorganic.com
csmiley@integratedorganic.com
Based in Mexico, we provide evaluation, development, training and verification to the following organic standards to companies located in the USA, Mexico and Central and South America: NOP (USA), LPO (Mexico), COR (Canada) and EU (European Union). Services include development & review of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) & Logs and Organic Plan, personnel training, review of inputs, materials and ingredients and development, label review and evaluation of audit trace back and mass balance systems. We put our bilingual organic expertise at your disposal.
Carol Cripe
Organic Help
18870 Stetson St.
Apple Valley, CA 92308
(760) 550-0519
lilacoaksranch@gmail.com
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Dan Giacomini
Middletown, CA
(707) 987-9184
dg.giacomini@gmail.com
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Karen Troxell/Shannon Murphy
The Organic Consulting Firm
Temecula, CA
(951) 676-4395
www.TheOCF.com
info@theocf.com
Let The Organic Consulting Firm (The OCF) do the work for you! The OCF is an international company providing full service evaluation, development, training, and verification to organic standards, including USDA, Equivalency Agreements, and others. The founders are active in today’s organic certification industry. The OCF will integrate organic compliance into existing procedures to create a complete customized Organic System Plan.
Lois Christie
Christie Organic Consultants, Inc.
Fallbrook, CA
(760) 723-3775
lois@christieorganic.com
Having worked both for major organic certification agencies as an inspector, reviewer, and certification representative, and as an independent organic consultant with a prominent consulting firm, anything from the most humble farm to the most complex multi-ingredient processing and packing operations, Lois Christie has seen it all from both sides, making Christie Organic Consultants uniquely qualified to assist you with all things organic. Lois is well versed in the regulations and requirements for the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), as the international standards such as Canada, the EU, Japan and Switzerland. We will train you and your staff, prepare your application and update existing forms and systems or create new ones, as needed. We can also assist with material reviews, extensive or complex responses, mediations and/or appeals.
Luis Brenes
AGRIVITA
Apdo 124-7051
Oreamuno, Costa Rica
+(506) 8891-0728
brenes.agrivita@gmail.com
+25 years experience, +25 countries
crop, handling, grower groups, international standards
training and consultant of certified operations, certification agencies and governments
Mark Chass
Sebastopol, CA
(707)-217-6351
markchass@comcast.net
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Patti Bursten Deutsch
Viroqua, WI
(608) 206-6499
pattibd@gmail.com
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Sandy Mays
Newcastle, VA
(540) 864-5107
info@organicspecialists.com
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Sheila Linderman
Sheila Linderman Consulting
738 East Dundee Road, Suite 219
Palatine, IL 60074
(818)-235-2232
www.sheilalinderman.com
sheila@sheilalinderman.com
Organic Certification
EU Organic Certification
Gluten-free Certification
Kosher Certification