The USDA Organic Insider

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AnnouncementFebruary 28, 2014
Greetings!

In this Insider, the Agricultural Marketing Service's National Organic Program points to an updated Instruction, certifier training slides, and two new organic program resources.

Updated Instruction: NOP 2000

The National Organic Program (NOP) is pleased to announce the update of NOP 2000: "Accreditation Policies and Procedures." This instruction provides general policies and procedures for organizations seeking or maintaining accreditation as NOP certifiers. The instruction has been revised with an eye to maximizing the efficiency of the accreditation process and integrating Sound and Sensible principles into accreditation activities.

Updated NOP 2000: Accreditation Policies and Procedures
 
Certifier Training Presentations Now Available

We enjoyed seeing certifiers last week in San Diego at the NOP's annual certifier training program.  The NOP partnered with the Accredited Certifiers Association (ACA) to offer the training. The goal of the training was to ensure consistency among all of our accredited certifying agents, and continue to demonstrate the importance of Sound and Sensible principles in organic certification.

 

We have posted the training slides on the Training page of the NOP website 
New Organic Resources

USDA posted two new organic resources this week:

Organic 101: Ensuring Organic Integrity through Inspections. This blog is our 15th posting in the USDA Organic 101 blog series, and discusses the importance of inspections in the certification process.   

Organic Topic of Interest: Hydroponics. The NOP has posted a new topic page to clarify the status of hydroponics under the USDA organic regulations. Visit our Organic Topics of Interest page and choose "Organic Hydroponic Crop Production" from the drop-down menu.
    
About the Agricultural Marketing Service

USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) facilitates the competitive and efficient marketing of agricultural products. Through its National Organic Program, AMS facilitates trade and ensures the integrity of organic agricultural products by consistently implementing organic standards and enforcing compliance with the regulations throughout the world. Learn more.

About the USDA Organic Insider

The USDA Organic Insider informs the organic community on a wide range of functions, including regulatory updates, requests for public comments, and USDA programs and services.

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