Organic Certification Process
While the specifics of certification vary depending on whether the company is a food producer, shipper, distributor, wholesaler or other handler, the certification process generally involves the following steps:
Review application
Conduct physical inspection of the operation
Review documents on-site
Audit recordkeeping system
Interview operations personnel
Sample and test (as warranted)
Conduct exit interview with key official (verbal and written)
Draft certification report
Review report (Certification Committee)
Make certification determination
To simplify the application process, SCS’s application form also can serve as the Organic Production / Handling System Plan required by the National Organic Program.
