Fact sheet on the basics of organic certification and steps to certify your operation.
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2024
What is Organic
Certification?
Organic certification verifies that farms and processing facilities located anywhere in the
world comply with the USDA organic regulations and allows products to be sold, labeled,
and represented as organic. These regulations describe the specific standards required
to use the word “organic” or the USDA organic seal on food, feed, or fiber products.
Why Certify a Farm,
Ranch, or Business?
Who Certifies Farms,
Ranches, and Businesses?
Organic certification ensures a farm, ranch,
or business is compliant to the USDA organic
regulations, leading to increased consumer
confidence and possible premium pricing for
the products to be sold as certified organic.
Farms, ranches, and processing facilities may
be certified by an accredited certifying agent,
commonly known as a certifier. Certifiers are
responsible for ensuring that USDA organic
products meet all organic standards. All
certifiers are listed in the Organic Integrity
Database, and easily find a certifier that
services your area using the “certifier
locator” search function.
What Products Can Be
Certified Organic?
The USDA organic regulations recognize four
categories of organic products:
Crops: plants to be harvested as food,
livestock feed, fiber, or used to add
nutrients to the field.
Livestock: Animals that can be used for
food or in the production of food, fiber,
or feed.
Processed products: Items that have been
handled and packaged (i.e. chopped
carrots) or combined, processed, and
packaged (i.e. soup).
Wild crops: Plants from a growing site that
is not cultivated.
How Much Does Organic
Certification Cost?
Actual certification costs or fees vary
depending on the certifier and the size, type,
and complexity of the operation. Before
applying, it is important to understand the
certifier’s fee structure and billing cycle.
Typically, there is an application fee, annual
renewal fee, assessment on annual
production or sales, and inspection fees.
Once you are certified, the USDA Organic
Certification Cost-Share Program can
reimburse you 75 percent or up to $750 of
your certification costs.
Organic Certification Process
How do I Get Certified?
Is There a Transition Period?
To become certified, you must apply to a
USDA-accredited certifying agent. They will
ask you for information, including:
A detailed description of the operation to
be certified.
A history of substances applied to land
during the previous three years.
The organic products grown, raised, or
processed.
A written Organic System Plan describing
the practices and substances to be used.
Yes. Any land used to produce raw organic
commodities must not have had prohibited
substances applied to it for the past three
years. Until the full 36-month transition
period is met, producers may not:
Sell, label, or represent the product as
“organic”
Use the USDA organic or certifying
agent’s seal
Adopt organic production
practices and complete
transition period, if necessary
Choose certifier, complete
Organic System Plan (OSP), &
pay certification fees
Become familiar with
organic regulations and
standards
Annual Certification Process
Annual update of
OSP to certifier
Inspector conducts an
on-site inspection of the
applicant’s operation
Certifier reviews inspection
report and OSP to
determine compliance with
USDA organic regulations
Certifier issues
organic certificate
Annual
inspection
Annual review of
compliance