10 Commandments of Organic Audits

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1. Thorough Documentation: Ensure all documentation related to organic practices, inputs, and transactions is complete, accurate, and up to date.
2. Compliance with Standards: Verify that all organic practices adhere to the established organic standards and regulations, including those related to production, handling, and labeling.
3. Traceability and Transparency: Establish a clear and traceable path that provides a linkable value for organic products from production to market. This includes documenting the origin of raw materials and their processing.
4. Recordkeeping and Reporting: Maintain meticulous records of all organic activities, including planting, harvesting, handling, and processing. Reports should be submitted promptly.
5. Physical Inspection: Prior to the inspection, organize the records that were kept prior to your previous organic inspection, if applicable, to prevent from scrambling for missing documents.
6. Risk Assessment and Mitigation: Identify potential risks to organic integrity, such as comingling or contamination and implement measures to mitigate these risks.
7. Training and Education: Ensure that all individuals involved in organic production and handling are adequately trained and knowledgeable about organic practices and standards.
8. Corrective Actions and Continual Improvement: Address any non-compliance promptly and develop corrective action plans to prevent future occurrences. Additionally, promote a culture of continual improvement in organic practices.
9. Confidentiality and Integrity: Treat all information related to organic audits with the utmost confidentiality, respecting the privacy and business interests of the audited entity.
10. Impartiality and Independence: Conduct audits in an impartial and independent manner, avoiding conflicts of interest that could compromise the integrity of the certification process.

Note that these commandments provide a general framework for conducting organic audits. Actual audit procedures and specific requirements may vary depending on the certification body, local regulations, and the nature of the organic operation being audited.

For more information reach out to PJRFSI today at (248) 519-2523 or by email at [email protected].

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