Essential Elements of Organic Certification Standard

The essential elements of the OC/PRO International Organic Standards and the National Standard of Canada for organic processors are as follows:

1. Pesticides, fertilizers, fungicides and genetically modified organisms (GMO's), or products derived thereof are prohibited from use.
2. The processor must maintain and update an Organic Processing and Handling Plan.
3. The processor must maintain a listing of all raw materials and other ingredients used in the processing, handling and storage of organic produce.
4. All raw materials processed by a wholly organic plant or processed during an organic interval in a multiple use plant must be assessed by OCPP Ontario Inc., in the context of necessity and intended use.
5. The producer has adopted soil and crop management practices which minimize soil degradation and which can be sustained on an ongoing basis, the processor has functional recycling/waste management programs.
6. Organic commodities must not be contaminated at any point during interim storage and transportation including residues from previous cargo(es).
7. Produce storage facilities must be maintained and cleaned on a regular basis and must be free of pesticides. Storage buildings and bins must be identified with permanent numbers or letters.
8. All organic products must be physically separated from non-organic products in such a way that co-mingling cannot occur.
9. The processor must monitor soil and/or water quality on a periodic basis and in a manner appropriate for their processing.
10. The processor must maintain detailed records from raw materials to finished products and production disposition with appropriate lot identification.