organic certification 101 adam watson kentucky department of agriculture

30
Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Upload: lesley-ward

Post on 20-Jan-2016

217 views

Category:

Documents


0 download

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Organic Certification 101

Adam Watson

Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Page 2: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

What is Organic?

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food, or other agricultural product, has been produced through approved

methods.

Page 3: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

What is Organic Certification?A third party certification program that allows qualifying producers to label agricultural goods as organic.

•Under the control of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program

Page 4: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

What is Organic Certification?

Governed by regulations

CFR 7 Section 205

Often called “The Rule”

Page 5: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Common Misconceptions

1. Organic is not “all natural”

2. Not all natural substances are allowed for use

§ 205.601 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic crop production.

§ 205.602 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic crop production.

§ 205.603 Synthetic substances allowed for use in organic livestock production.

§ 205.604 Nonsynthetic substances prohibited for use in organic livestock production.

Page 6: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Who Has to be CertifiedAny producer/manufacturer who wants to market product as organic, and who sells more than $5,000(gross) of “organic” product.•Less than $5,000 exempt from certification, but must follow all regulations AND register with KDA as required by KRS. Limited marketing options.

Page 7: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Approved MethodsThese methods integrate cultural,

biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote

ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity.

Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering(GMO)

may not be used.

NO TREATED LUMBER

Page 8: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

What can be certified?4 Scopes(categories):

Crop: plants {food, fiber, livestock feed, aesthetics}, physical ground

Livestock*: animals and their products {food, fiber}

*Also requires Crop

Page 9: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Processed Products: agriculture products that have been

handled or processed; ranges from diced fruit to cosmetics

Wild Crops: plants growing in the wild, not cultivated

What can be certified?

Page 10: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Basic Requirements for Certification

Any land used for production of organic products must have been free from prohibited substances for a 36 month transition period.

Page 11: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Transition Period

May be met by Previous Land Use Delcaration or records if no prohibited

substances applied for the past 36 months.

Page 12: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Record Retention

All records relating to organic certification must be

maintained for 5 years.

Page 13: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Crop Production Practices• Must be adhere to all the regulations.

• No synthetics in the production (generally)

• Seed, bulbs, tubers, perennial plants must be certified organic unless commercially unavailable. If commercially unavailable, untreated conventional acceptable.

• Seedlings must always be certified organic!

Page 14: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Crop Production PracticesInputs {fertilizers, pesticides, etc.} must adhere to NOP regulations.

•OMRI-Organic Materials Review Institute evaluates materials, list online

•Washington State Dept. of Agriculture

Evaluates materials, list online

•KDA evaluates materials on request

Page 15: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Why is it important to use reviewed materials only?

Many potentially allowed substances can have a prohibited ingredient added or be from a disallowed source.

For example: Gypsum from mined source is allowed.

Gypsum from recycled wall board is not allowed!

Mined gypsum with a prohibited dust suppressant not allowed!

Page 16: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Animals• Meat animals must be born

organic. At minimum from the last trimester of gestation mom has to be raised organically.

• Poultry raised organic from day 2.

• Dairy animals require a one year transition if not born organic.

Page 17: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Annual Certification Process

You may choose any certifier you wish!

KDA is the cheapest. And our quality is equal or exceeds

our competition.

Page 18: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Annual Certification Process1. Complete application, send it with

supporting materials and applicable fee to KDA or other certifier. KDA 5/15 deadline, earlier better. Available online, we will also mail copies.

2. We review the application for completeness, may request additional materials. If everything is ok we will release it to an inspector.

Page 19: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

3. Inspector will contact you, arranges a time for inspection.

BIG TIP for a good inspection, have your records organized!

What records?

Receipts, seed tags, field activity, input use, sales records{quantity much more important than $}.

Annual Certification Process

Page 20: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

4. Inspectors arrives conducts the inspection, writes a summary of findings and discusses the finding with you.

Inspector does not make the decision on certification!

Submits the findings to a final reviewer; final reviewer makes decision to certify, or noncompliance.

Annual Certification Process

Page 21: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

NoncompliancesA Notice of Noncompliance is the result of a something contrary to the regulations.

They are generally correctible, you have a specified period of time to fix

the issue, or rebut. Common issues are lack of records, use of nonorganic seed without establishing lack of commercial availability, failing to submit application by deadline.

Page 22: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Annual Certification Process

If no noncompliances, or all noncompliances resolved, you

will be issued an organic certificate.

Page 23: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Page 24: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Annual Certification Process

After first year, same process slightly less info submitted because

no need for 3 years worth of records.

A reduced paperwork process is expected to be implemented

beginning in 2014.

Page 25: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Some Resources kyagr.com

Page 26: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Page 27: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

http://oak-ky.org/

Page 28: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Kentucky State Third Thursday

Page 29: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

ATTRA

Page 30: Organic Certification 101 Adam Watson Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Questions  Adam Watson

[email protected] Program Manager

Kentucky Department of Agriculture100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th Floor

Frankfort, KY 40601Office (502) 564-4983

Cell (502) 229-0954