Certification Programs
Clean Food
The Clean Food Standard is a voluntary best-practice standard for food producers aimed at identifying fresh grown foods that meet comprehensive standards of product purity. The standard extends the concept of guaranteed levels of purity embodied in US Clean Air and Clean Water regulations into the food arena. Specifically, the standard addresses four areas of potential concern: 1) pesticide residues; 2) food pathogens; 3) industrial contaminants and heavy metals; and 4) GMOs.
By getting certified under the Clean Food Standard, a grower gains marketplace recognition for the exceptional measures it takes to protect the purity of its fresh food products. These measures include the adoption of pest management regimes, growing practices, and food handling methods that minimize potential hazards to human health and the environment from pesticide exposure, food pathogens, and other contaminants. A grower whose crop has been certified is eligible to claim that this product “Meets Clean Food Standards,” and qualifies for one or more additional claims of achievement as well.
The Clean Food Standard is intended to serve as the basis of a Draft National Standard for the U.S. market, and simultaneously, to inform the development of broader national standards for sustainable agricultural practices.
Pesticide Residue Free
Among potential food contaminants, pesticide residues are the number one consumer concern. Certified Pesticide Residue Free foods meet a proven standard of excellence that is stringent enough to satisfy organic and conventional food shoppers alike — that is, lab tested and shown to have no pesticide residues, down to the limits of laboratory detection.
SCS’s NutriClean agricultural division established the world’s first pesticide residue free certification program in 1985, with the rigorous field inspection, sampling and laboratory protocols needed to support this claim. Today, SCS certifies a wide range of crops from key growing regions around the globe as pesticide residue free. Growers can also earn recognition for this achievement under the comprehensive Clean Food Standard.
Transitional
Under the US National Organic Program and other organic production standards around the world, growers are required to undergo a transition period (e.g., 3 years in the US) before they are allowed to make an organic market claim. During this period, the only agrichemicals permitted for use are those allowed on organic crops. As such, the transition period can present a difficult near-term hurdle.
For these growers, the SCS NutriClean division can independently certify the fact that crops are formally in transition to organic. This certification supports buyer recognition of this significant achievement while helping growers to bridge the transition period to organic. Certified transitional growers can also elect to make a “Grown without Synthetic Pesticides and Fertilizers” claim directly on their products. When growers complete the transition period, SCS’s NutriClean division can provide full organic certification as an accredited certifier under the National Organic Program, helping growers to realize cost savings benefits.
Growers can also earn recognition for this transition achievement under the comprehensive Clean Food Standard.
Country-of-Destination Tolerance Compliance
Every country has established its own rules regarding which pesticides are registered for use by crop, and acceptable residue levels (i.e., “tolerances”). In some cases, growers and shippers who export products may not be aware of the differences in these rules from country to country.
Country-of-destination tolerance certification is an SCS NutriClean division service for growers and shippers who wish to provide a guarantee to wholesalers, distributors, and retailers in recipient countries that their crops fully comply with country registration and tolerance requirements. SCS maintains the pesticide residue tolerances for most counties plus the CODEX tolerances for Europe. Our labs are certified by the UK, Japan, and Taiwan for pesticide residue and pathogen analysis.
Growers can also earn recognition for this transition achievement under the comprehensive Clean Food Standard.
Definitions
Laboratory Limits of Detection
The laboratory limit of detection (LOD) is the level below which a laboratory cannot confirm the presence of a specific residue in a given commodity. For pesticides, LODS are established in accordance FDA PAM II protocols for pesticides. Back to Citation
National Organic Program
The US Department of Agriculture administers the National Organic Program, which has published a list of synthetic and botanical pesticides which are either permitted and banned for use on organic crops. Back to Citation