ON & IC.....Certifying to Standard...Producers, Processors, Handlers

The National Organic Program (NOP), a division of the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service,develops, implements, and administers national production, handling, and labeling standards for organic agricultural products. The NOP also accredits the certifying agents (foreign and domestic) who inspect organic production and handling operations to certify that they meet USDA standards.

Agricultural products sold, labeled or represented as organic must be produced and processed in accordance with these NOP standards for certification. As a NOP accredited certifying agent, Organic National & International Certifiers adheres to these standards when reviewing your business for organic certification.

Under the NOP Standards, Organic National & International Certifiers offers certification for...

Crop Production

	Organically Grown. Farms producing agricultural and horticultural crops.
	Organic Wild-Crop Harvest. Sustainable harvest of wild crops growing in a designated area that has been free of prohibited materials for at least 3 years

Livestock Production

Organically Grown Livestock and Poultry. Farms producing animal products such as meat, eggs, and milk.

Handling Operations

	Organic Food Processing. Production of processed organic foods by processors and co-packers.
	Organic Handlers. Businesses participating in the distribution chain for organic foods such as packers, brokers, wholesalers and distributors.
	Organic Marketers. Formulation and marketing of organic products, which are processed or co-packed at other facilities.
	Organic Retail Stores and Restaurants. Retail stores and restaurants, which sell organic products to the consumer, either as fresh produce, packaged goods, or ready-to-eat meals.

Personal Care Products

	According to the NOP, "if a cosmetic, body care product, or personal care product contains or is made up of agricultural ingredients, and can meet the USDA/NOP organic production, handling, processing and labeling standards, it may be eligible to be certified under the NOP regulations."
	The operations which produce the organic agricultural ingredients, the handlers of these agricultural ingredients, and the manufacturer of the final product must all be certified by a USDA-accredited organic certifying agent.
	Once certified, cosmetics, personal care products, and body care products are eligible for the same 4 organic labeling categories as all other agricultural products, based on their organic content and other factors