Organic Certification.ppt

Organic Certification In Tennessee National Organic Program NOP established national standards for organically labeled products. USDA approves organizations or persons to become certifying agents Certifying agents certify that production and handling practices meet the national standards. Producers or handlers who sell $5000 of product per year labeled or represented as organic must be certified. /nop/ The Basis for National Standards 1990 - Organic Foods Production Act - part of the 1990 Farm Bill. 1993 - USDA appoints National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). 1996 - NOSB completes recommendations. 1997 - USDA publishes first proposal 275,000 comments let USDA know it needs more work March, 2000 – USDA’s 2nd proposal 40,000 more comments December, 2000 – USDA’s Final Rule Definition of Organic Production-from USDA final rule “…A system that responds to site-specific conditions by integrating cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.” I used to eat a lot of natural food, until I learned that most people die of natural causes.  Certification Procedure Producer purchases Certification Application Packet from accredited certifying agent of their choice. Certification Application Packet Includes Certification Handbook Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) Manuals of materials allowed, restricted and prohibited for use in organic production Application(s) for Certification 2. Producer pays applicable fees and submits completed application which includes: History of substances applied to the land for the previous three years, Organic products being grown or processed, Organic plan, which includes practices and substances used in production (Must keep post-certification records on production, harvesting, and handling for five years.) Certifying agent reviews application for certification eligibility. Inspector, assigned by certifying agent, conducts on-site inspe