Update: 1/12/2009

Organic Food Program

For more information, e-mail us or call (360) 902-1805.

 

WSDA Organic Food Program Fact Sheets Complaints National Organic Program International Program  Export Certificate Organic Quarterly Retailer Information To view PDF files, download Acrobat Reader

WSDA Organic Food Program

The WSDA Organic Food Program protects consumers and supports the organic food industry by ensuring the integrity of organic food products through establishing organic standards and certifying organic producers, processors, and handlers.

The WSDA Organic Food Program has put together reference material to assist applicants with the organic certification process.  The WSDA Rules and Regulations Book contains the USDA National Organic Standards, WSDA Organic Standards and Regulations, and WSDA Organic Certification Fee Information.  The WSDA Guide to Organic Certification provides answers to frequently asked questions about certification, and provides details and references about organic production and handling requirements.

• Guide to Organic Certification (PDF 451 KB)
• WSDA Organic Rules and Regulations (PDF 441 KB)

Fact Sheet

• Seed and Planting Stock Guidelines (PDF 102 KB)

Check out the brochures we provide to the public. Contact our office if you would like a copy. 

• Organic Food Program General Information (PDF 266 KB)
• Crop Production (PDF 155 KB)
• Livestock Production (PDF 128 KB)
• Food Handling (PDF 204 KB)

Complaints

The WSDA Organic Food Program has established a complaint procedure to help ensure the complaints from applicants for certification, certified operations and the public are processed and addressed in an orderly and timely manner. Please reference the Complaint Procedure for further details.

• Complaint Procedure (PDF 55 KB)

National Organic Program Information

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a federal law that requires all organic food products to meet the same standards and be certified under the same certification process.  All organic producers and handlers must be certified by accredited organic certification agencies unless exempt or excluded from certification (under $5,000 in sales, retailers)

• National Organic Program

• NOP Summary 2006 (PDF 223 KB)

• Organic Requirements Simplified (PDF 65 KB)

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International Programs

As exports of organic food products from Washington State have increased, a need for a certification program specific to foreign standards has been identified.  WSDA Organic Food Program has developed a program of inspecting and verifying compliance of certified producers, handlers, and processing operations to European standards, as well as Japan requirements.  Certification under the International Program ensures continued market access for Washington certified crops and products.

For additional Information and Reference Materials click on the link below.

• Handlers

• Processors

• Producers (Growers)

Export Certificates

Several foreign governments require specific documentation from a USDA Certification Agency before the organic product can enter the country.  WSDA Organic Food Program can provide these services to certified operations in order to facilitate the shipping of an organic product.

EUROPE
Certificate of Inspection (EC 1788/2001) and European Union Compliance Affidavits
Products entering the European Union must be certified according to European Standards (EEC 2092/91).  In addition, all shipments of organic products exported to the European Union must be accompanied by a European Community Certificate of Inspection (ECC 1788/2001).  This document identifies the certified producers and handlers of the products as well as the details of the shipment.  If an organic crop is used as an ingredient in another operation?s product, a European Union Compliance Affidavit may be required to verify compliance of the crop before the shipment is approved.

JAPAN
USDA Export Certificate (TM-11) and Japan (JAS) Compliance Affidavits
On March 27, 2002, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) entered an arrangement with the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries (MAFF).  This official recognition means that plant-based agricultural products from United States? certified operations may be labeled or represented in Japan as organic, provided the products have not been produced with alkali-extracted humic acid, lignin sulfonate and potassium bicarbonate.  Although these substances are allowed under the U.S. organic standards, confirmation that the materials have not been applied to the product must be obtained prior to the shipping of products to Japan.

KOREA
Korea Export or Transaction Certificate for Processed Organic Products
The labeling requirements for processed organic products imported by Korea were updated in 2003 to more closely parallel organic labeling requirements in the U.S.  However, in order to clear Korean customs, a USDA accredited certifying agent, must first certify the processed product according to the National Organic Program and then provide an export certificate specific to the shipment of organic products.

Contact Brenda Book at (360) 902-2090, FAX (360) 902-2087, email: bbook@agr.wa.gov for export document forms or applications, or with questions regarding the requirements of exporting products to the foreign countries.

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Organic Quarterly

The Organic Quarterly is published by the Organic Food Program to keep our certified organic producers, processors and handlers updated on current events within the state and federal programs. We look forward to comments and feedback, or send us a question and we may address it in the next issue!!

• January 2006 (PDF 625 KB)
• April 2006 (PDF 560 KB)
• July 2006 (PDF 456 KB)
• October 2006 (PDF 503 KB)
• January 2007 (PDF 369 KB)
• April 2007 (PDF 902 KB)
• July 2007 (PDF 319 KB)
• October 2007 (PDF 397 KB)
• January 2008 (PDF 2473 KB)
• April  2008 (PDF 360 KB)
• July 2008 (PDF 359 KB)
• October 2008 (PDF 356 KB)
• January 2009 (PDF)

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