NOP inspection and certification
The production, inspection and certification rules for organic production according the U.S. Standards have been laid down in the National Organic Program (NOP) of the United States Department of Agriculture. This Regulation is in force within the U.S.A., but also sets criteria for importing and exporting organic products to the Unites States of America.
Dates on NOP certificates:
According to 205.404 of the National Organic Program certification bodies can not indicate validity dates on the NOP certificates. The same paragraph requires CU to indicate the "effective date of certification"(first date of certification) instead of the last date of certification.
Due to the above, NOP certified operators often face difficulties to prove the validity of their certificate.
In case of such a situation, you can advise your partner to search for presently certified companies or products at the CU website by using the link below. If it does not help, you can turn to your certifier, who will issue a declaration.
Control Union Certifications is obliged to verify the compliance of each production and processing unit of the certified operators at least once per year.
What has to be certified according to the NOP rules:
Except for operations exempt or excluded in §205.101 of the National Organic Program, each production or handling operation or specified portion of a production or handling operation that produces or handles crops, livestock, livestock products, or other agricultural products that are intended to be sold, labeled, or represented as "100 percent organic," "organic," or "made with organic (specified ingredients or food group(s))" according to the National Organic Program must be certified.
Please note, that according to the National Organic Program 205.100 'c' any operation, that:
(1) Knowingly sells or labels a product as organic, except in accordance with the Act, shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 per violation.
(2) Makes a false statement under the Act to the Secretary, a governing State official, or an accredited certifying agent shall be subject to the provisions of section 1001 of title 18, United States Code
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