On January 22, 2014, the National Organic Program (NOP) published guidance 5031 “Certification Requirements for Handling Unpackaged Organic Products.” This guidance is intended to address the concern that certain products have been moving through unregulated segments of the organic marketing chain.
Effective June 1, 2015, CCOF will require that orchards and other crops no longer utilize intensive grazing within 90 days of harvest of a crop where the edible portion does not touch soil or soil particles. This interpretation of existing raw manure restrictions is being phased in during 2015—with an expectation that growers update their practices and organic system plans by June 1, 2015—to ensure compliance during the 2015 production year and beyond.
Deciding what materials are allowed and not allowed, and what restrictions might apply can be a difficult and daunting task. CCOF understands this, and wants to make these decisions as simple as possible. Read though our FAQ “What materials (fertilizers and pesticides) can I use for organic farming and livestock?” for easy guidelines on what materials you can use. Learn how to inform CCOF you’ll be using them.
We at CCOF are concerned about the potential effects of the current severe drought on organic livestock operations in California and elsewhere. To help us better understand the situation, we are asking organic livestock operations to complete this survey: www.surveymonkey.com/s/drought_2014.
Drought conditions across the United States have had serious impacts on organic livestock producers, both in terms of the ability to graze on pasture and find organic feed supplies. The National Organic Program has announced a temporary variance for grazing requirements that will hopefully bring some relief to farmers across the country.
Earlier this year, the National Organic Program published a final rule renewing over 200 listings on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances that were scheduled to expire this year. The rule also made changes to the substances listed below.
Improvements for Materials Tracking and Approvals Continue: We have heard loud and clear that one of our clients’ biggest frustrations with the certification process is the paperwork surrounding input materials approval. In response, CCOF has been undergoing a materials evolution focused on making the process more efficient and less burdensome. We hope that you will find these changes to be positive, and welcome your feedback at any time!