Organic Certification: How It Works, Why It Matters, and Steps to Get Certified

Organic certification verifies a farm or handling operation against a defined organic standard. It covers production or handling practices, permitted inputs, traceability and records, with inspection by the relevant certifying body.

Permitted substances depend on the program. Under USDA rules, synthetic substances are prohibited unless specifically allowed on the National List, while nonsynthetic substances are allowed unless specifically prohibited. Organic certification is not a promise that every input is natural.

1. Trust and Transparency for Consumers

Certification provides a documented check that the operation and covered products meet the relevant organic standard. Buyers can verify the certifier, certified operation and product scope before relying on the organic claim.

2. Market Access and Legal Compliance

For businesses, certification supports selling covered products under the destination's organic rules. Confirm the accepted program and label requirements before making the claim. For the US program, consult the USDA National Organic Program.

3. Environmental Benefits

Organic farming rules set requirements for production practices. In the EU, they aim to preserve soil fertility and biodiversity and support animal welfare.

Start with the organic program accepted by your destination market and confirm the scope with an authorized certifier. Common checks cover permitted inputs, production or handling records, separation of organic and non-organic materials, and inspection.

For USDA certification, use the National List to check inputs rather than assuming every natural substance is permitted and every synthetic substance is prohibited. For cross-border supply, verify the destination's certification and import-document route for your product.

1. Select a certifier: choose one authorized for the destination program and your operation's scope.
2. Prepare the application: document production or handling practices, inputs, suppliers and traceability.
3. Complete the inspection: make the operation and records available for review.
4. Receive the decision: address any noncompliances and check which operations and products the certification covers.
5. Maintain compliance: keep records and complete the program's ongoing reviews.

Under USDA rules, certification continues until surrendered, suspended or revoked; annual review and inspection do not mean the operation certificate expires automatically after one year. See USDA's certification process and 7 CFR 205.404.

Organic certification can cover farming, processing and trading operations. Review the certification requirements for these activities under the destination program:

• Grow crops or raise animals for sale as “organic”
• Process, package, or label products (like roasted coffee, tea blends, or snacks) as organic
• Import or export food products across borders and want to keep the “organic” claim

Under USDA rules, most producing or handling operations require certification; limited exemptions depend on their activities. Importing and exporting are not exempt activities. For organic agricultural products entering the United States, associate each shipment with an NOP Import Certificate supplied through the exporter's certifier.

Conversion and application times depend on the program and operation. Under USDA rules, land used to produce organic crops must have had no prohibited substances applied for the previous three years.

A processing or handling application involves different checks, including ingredient sourcing, separation and records. Ask the certifier for the requirements and timetable that apply to your operation.

Recognition arrangements depend on the origin, destination and product scope. Check that your certifier and certification route are accepted for the intended shipment.

For organic products imported into the EU, the European Commission's organic-trade guidance explains the accepted control routes and electronic certificate of inspection (e-COI) administered through TRACES. An operation certificate and the shipment's import document serve different purposes.

Messy Recordkeeping: Organic rules live and die in your files. Develop a routine for maintaining records every week.

Cross-Contamination: Clearly separate organic and non-organic crops, products, or storage - physically, wherever possible.

Out-of-date Inputs: Confirm inputs and seed sourcing with the certifier under the applicable organic standard. Keep invoices and product info handy.

Assuming One Certification Covers All: Map the operations in your supply chain and verify the certification or exemption applicable to each. Check that certificate scopes include the products and handling activities used.

Costs vary, depending on your certifier, operation size, and location. For USDA certification, costs may range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars; ask the certifier for its fee structure and billing cycle.

Compare quoted fees and ongoing recordkeeping costs with buyer requirements and expected sales for the organic range.

When assessing an organic supply offer, check the certifier, operation scope, product coverage and the import documents required by the destination. Keep those checks separate from price, taste and packaging.

For MR.VIET's packaged products and partnership options, visit wholesale and discuss the specifications required for your proposed range.