USDA/NOP/NOSB
USDA
National Organic Program (NOP)
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
CCOF's Position on Grower Group Certification
The certification of grower groups enables a large number of producers from the same geographic region who share common agricultural practices to collectively market products as organic under one certificate. While this system may be more cost efficient for small producers and exporters, it is not necessarily in compliance with the National Organic Program (NOP) standards since some parcels in the group will not be inspected annually. NOP regulation asserts that all organic production facilities must be inspected annually by a third party certifier, but grower groups typically require only 20% of their operations to be inspected each year. Using this system, a specific organic operation could be out of compliance for up to five years before the certifier became aware of it.
In an effort to maintain organic integrity, CCOF has routinely not certified grower groups. We believe that all producers of organic products should complete the certification process, including annual inspections for all individual operations. Allowing grower group certification creates a potential for unfair competition with other organic growers and also room for possible corruption. For these reasons, CCOF supports a short-term phase out of grower groups under the NOP and urges the immediate termination of group certification to retail operations. For more information about grower group issues, follow the links below.
NOP Policy...
IFOAM Response...
IOIA discussion...
Read the position statement letter submitted by CCOF...
USDA
Under the National Organic
Program (NOP), 7 CFR Part 205, the United States Department
of Agriculture (USDA) is the official regulatory and enforcement
agency for organic agriculture, food and other products.
Consistent with CCOF’s history,
CCOF remains committed to working with the NOP to ensure organic
food and agriculture maintains the highest standards and consumer
confidence possible. CCOF actively engages the NOP on a variety
of issues ranging from standards interpretation to protection of
organic consumer expectations and addressing drift issues. Please
support CCOF to help continue our vital work.
National Organic Program (NOP)
On the NOP website, CCOF clients and the public can obtain a wide
variety of information. Some sections of the website highly recommended
to CCOF certified clients are:
- NOP Policies and News Updates
- Labeling guidelines
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Accreditation
- Appeals Process
- State Organic Program Approval Procedures
- Export Arrangements
- Contact Information
- Background and History
- Upcoming Events
Clients can also view the final rule text, and download the rule
in Spanish and Japanese.
- Read the National Standards on Organic Agricultural Production
and Handling
- View Final Regulations in Japanese
- View Final Regulations in Spanish
- View the Final Rule Fact Sheets in English and Spanish
- Commercial Availability Comments
The National List of Materials is also available on the NOP website,
as is the petitioning process for adding materials to the list.
National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) is comprised of 15 members
who advise the US Secretary of Agriculture and USDA on implementation
of the National Organic Program. They are hugely influential and
are responsible for review of new materials petitions, many organic
standards interpretations, and recommendations on development of
new organic standards. However, recommendations by the NOSB are
not official policy until they are approved by the National Organic
Program.
CCOF has been very active in monitoring NOSB meetings and providing
commentary reflecting the needs to organic agriculture, consumers
and organic processors. Your support helps keep organic standards
strong.
The NOSB website includes information on petitioning the NOSB
to add a material to the National Materials List.
March 2007 NOSB OMRI Meeting Report
Meeting Report The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) met on March 27, 28 and 29, 2007. The report prepared by OMRI has important updates on new policies, proceedures, Handling and Agricultural Ingredients as well as livestock issues.
November 2003 NOSB Updates
Amendments to the
USDA National Organic Program National List 7 CFR Part 205.600-607,
as of November 3, 2003
NOSB Recommendations
that have not completed a final rulemaking for addition to the National
List, as of November 3, 2003
Consolidated
National List (7 CFR 205.600-607), December 2001 Final Rule
with Amendments, compiled by the Organic Materials Review Institute,
November 14, 2003
Please call us if you have any questions at (831) 423-2263, or
email us at ccof@ccof.org.
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