FAQs by facilities and equipment
No, but you can easily add an uncertified facility location to your own certification! Facilities where organic product is made must be inspected and approved by your certifier before product may be sold as organic. All products labeled as organic must be produced in an inspected and certified organic facility.
Products produced in an uncertified facility (not included as part of your... Read more
Yes, as long as adequate measures are taken to distinguish organic from non-organic and storage practices do not pose a commingling or contamination risk for organic ingredients. You do not have to have a physical barrier in place, but adequate separation and labeling should be in place to protect the organic product.
Yes, you can use off-site storage facilities to store and distribute your products without having that location inspected or certified. Off-site storage facilities and distribution centers are not required to be certified as long as the products are packaged or otherwise enclosed in a container prior to being received or acquired. The product must remain in the same package and may not be... Read more
No, you cannot use lumber treated with arsenate or other prohibited materials for new installations or replacement purposes in contact with soil or livestock. You may use treated lumber on parts of your property that are not included in your certification or in areas where the lumber will not contact soil or livestock.
Before you use a new facility, piece of equipment, or processing line you will need to update your Organic System Plan (OSP) to describe the new location or equipment. Follow the instructions to add a new facility or equipment. CCOF will review your updated OSP and then schedule an inspection of the new location or equipment. Be sure to complete the facility or address change form if your... Read more
The National Organic Program (NOP) outlines a specific order of pest control methods in areas where organic products are processed, handled, or stored.
First use preventative measures such as good sanitation, then mechanical measures, such as mechanical, sticky, or pheromone traps. If preventative and mechanical measures do not adequately control pests, you may use NOP allowed materials... Read moreYou must protect organic integrity during receiving, storage, processing, packaging, and transportation. Many certified operations process both organic and non-organic products without any difficulty. These operations are referred to as “mixed” operations. Mixed operations are responsible for protecting organic ingredients and products throughout production. This is done by preventing... Read more
CCOF cannot recommend any specific cleaners or sanitizers. Processors/handlers are permitted to use any sanitizer allowed for cleaning food contact surfaces as long as the sanitizer does not leave a residue and does not come in contact with organic products. Sanitizers that contact organic products must be on the National List (205.605). The National List (205.600-205.606) is available by... Read more