To help individuals who own, manage, or certify organic operations meet all USDA organic requirements, the NOP has published four new resources in its Program Handbook:
Certification Section
NOP 2609: Unannounced Inspections
Provides instructions to certifiers regarding unannounced inspections, including their scope and frequency.
NOP 2612: Recommended Penalties for Violations of Specific Regulatory Requirements (Penalty Matrix)
Provides instructions to certifiers on how regulatory violations should be addressed.
NOP 2612-1: Penalty Matrix by Violation Category
Per section of the USDA organic regulations, provides examples of violations and their recommended penalties.
Policy Memos Section
PM 12-1: Production and Certification of Aquatic Plants
Clarifies that aquatic plants and their products can by certified under the current USDA organic regulations.
PM 12-2: Placement of Certified Organic By *** Statement
Grants a transition period for the correct placement of the "certified organic by ***" statement on packaged products.
Alternatively, view the full NOP Handbook.
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