Sample Handler Audit Trail
This is an example of the type of information you might submit to accompany your H5.0 Audit Trail for Handlers. You will need to develop an audit trail that is specific to your operation.
This is an example of the type of information you might submit to accompany your H5.0 Audit Trail for Handlers. You will need to develop an audit trail that is specific to your operation.
Although retailers are exempt from the requirement of being certified, they must still keep sufficient records demonstrating compliance to the standards. Records should include date of purchase, source, quantities, and organic certificates listing the specifics for organic products you purchase. Records should also include documentation of methods used for prevention of commingling and contact with prohibited substances, such as sanitizers, pest control materials, and non-organic products. Records are very important if the organic status of a product sold by you is ever questioned.
Recordkeeping and organization are important aspects of certification, so we've created helpful documents and sample forms to assist our clients with these challenges. Our recordkeeping templates are designed to help you understand organic certification requirements and maintain the appropriate records.
A lot number is a tracking system that links the organic product back to the farmer or incoming ingredient. The lot numbering system provides critical information regarding the origin of the products being used by processors/handlers, especially in the age of increased food safety requirements.
Both incoming and outgoing products should include lot numbers to allow both recall and ingredient tracking throughout the system. Common outgoing lot numbers include production dates, roasting or best by dates, and sequential numbering systems.
Your inspector will probably focus on records from the past year, but records for five years should be accessible as well.
The best way to imagine an audit trail is to think of a food safety product recall. If you found out that a specific lot of an organic ingredient was contaminated, you would use your recordkeeping system to determine which final batches of product that ingredient went into. An audit trail is the collection of documents that would allow you to do that.
“Audit trail” includes all records of purchases, internal movement, and sales of inputs, ingredients, intermediates, and final products. Have these records organized and accessible.
Certificates may only be issued by certifiers that have been accredited by the USDA. To verify if your supplier is certified by an USDA accredited certifier, see the list of accredited certifiers on the National Organic Program website. National Organic Program (NOP) certificates must meet the following requirements:
Use this worksheet at the end of the grazing season to average the Dry Matter Intake (DMI) from each feed ration. This worksheet will help you find the overall average DMI from pasture for the entire grazing season for each class of animals.
Use this worksheet throughout the grazing season to document the Dry Matter Intake (DMI) in each ration fed to each class of animal. Complete a new worksheet any time the ration for a class of animals changes.
Organic operations must keep records of all activities and transactions. Such records may include: