Accreditation

• Accreditation is a procedure by which an authoritative body evaluates and gives formal recognition that a certification program is by the standards of the authoritative body.
• For organic agriculture, certification bodies can apply the voluntary international standards and/or the national mandatory standards and be accredited by the related “authority”.

What’s involved in the accreditation process?

• Documentation from certification bodies is submitted for screening against the relevant IFOAM norms.
• Normally the screening will indicate required improvements that need to be rectified by the applicant.
• An evaluation visit is carried out by an IOAS evaluator, who then compiles a report.
• This report is assessed by the IOAS Accreditation Committee which makes the final accreditation decision.

Notes about Certification

• Producers who sell less than $5,000 per year are not required to be certified.
• Certified operations must submit an updated organic plan, pay fees, and be re-inspected each year.
• USDA or the certifying agent may conduct unannounced inspections at any time to enforce the regulations.
• Certifying agents or USDA will conduct residue tests of organic products if there is reason to believe that products have been contaminated with prohibited substances.

Violations

• If your organic certification agency finds just cause, certification can and will be suspended or revoked.
• Any person who knowingly violates the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) can be fined up to $10,000 per violation. (representing a product as organic without certification is an example violation)