Organic FAQs

1. Producer or handler adopts organic practices.
2. Producer, handler, crop farm submits application, agreement, & fees to certifying agent.
3. Certifying agent reviews application for compliance.
4. Inspector conducts onsite inspection.
5. Certifying agent reviews the application & inspection to determine compliance.
6. Certifying agent issues organic certificate.
7. Updates certifying agent annually or as needed.
8. The steps above continue for annual renewal.

As with all other types of certification, costs for Organic certification is dependent on the last years combined annual sales. PJRFSI is happy to offer free certification quotes to give a more custom-tailored answer to this question. Reach out to pjrfsi@pjrfsi.com for more information!

Both! Organic certification reviews that the process and the product recipe and label are appropriate according to organic regulations.

Absolutely! Request an application on our website or call 248-519-2523 and ask to speak to a program manager in your area.

Tough question! If an operation is importing product into the United States of American that takes physical ownership or possession of the product coming into the United States - yes, they need to be certified. Ownership can be owning the product on the ship in transit even! There are exceptions to retail sale and brokers that do not take physical possession and ownership per the regulations. Refer to 205.101 of the regulations and the Frequently Asked Questions.

PJRFSI does not help certify clients. PJRFSI conducts certification practices. Clients are responsible for understanding and reading the Organic Regulations. There are many helpful consultants in the industry that are able to help get you certified.

If the product is certified to the NOP (National Organic Program) or a country that has an equivalency arrangement product can be received. The equivalent countries are the following: EU, Japan, Tiawan, Canada, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. However, the operation receiving the product into the United States may need to be certified.

PJRFSI is accredited to certify processing, handling, and crop scopes. PJRFSI is not accredited to livestock or wild crop.

No, GMO's cannot be used in organic products.

An Organic System Plan (OSP) is a detailed plan that outlines organic practices and procedures a farm or handler will use to comply with USDA organic standards. Your OSP acts as an agreement between you and PJRFSI.

Upon the completed application process, PJRFSI will provide OSP documentation to complete to work towards the certification process. A complete OSP is required by the National Organic Program (NOP).

PJRFSI will review your company’s application to the organic regulations. Upon compliance with the regulations an inspection will be scheduled.

An inspector will arrive at your physical address provided. The inspection will review your organic practices and operation. A trace back and mass balance procedure will be performed. PJRFSI will provide additional information prior to the inspection on what to anticipate.

PJRFSI will review the inspection report provided by the inspector and determine the next steps towards organic certification.

A noncompliance is something that is found to be not in compliance with the organic regulations. Your operation has a specific time period outline in the noncompliance to respond on how your operation will come into compliance to follow the regulations.

Notify PJRFSI ASAP.

Notify PJRFSI as soon as possible. Reference NOP Guidance 2604. 4.1 states:

Certification and certificates issued to certified operations are not transferrable to new owners in cases of mergers, acquisitions, or other transfers of ownership of the certified operation. When there is a change in ownership of a certified operation, the certified operation must apply for and receive new certification from a certifying agent prior to selling, labeling, or representing products as organic.

An anniversary date is when the certified operation must submit its annual updates to their organic certifier.

No! Organic certificates do not expire. Organic certificates are valid until surrendered, suspended, or revoked.

The USDA organic regulations do not provide for precertification. PJRFSI cannot issue precertification documents to cover operations that are applying for certification.

Check out the USDA remark for using the USDA seal for more information regarding organic labels.

Check out this download for more information regarding organic labels. If you have additional questions regarding these guidelines, please contact pjrfsi@pjrfsi.com or call us at (248) 519-2523.

Yes! Although your certification never expires, you must complete the annual renewal process each year.

No! For currently-certified clients, PJRFSI offers a short application form called the Annual Update. It focuses on any changes to your organic operation and on your organic product sales during the previous year.

Submit your completed Annual Update form any necessary supplemental application forms by February 1^st. Submitting your forms and fee after February 1^st will delay the recertification process for your operation and result in late fees.

The Annual Update form asks specific questions to capture updates that could affect your certification status.

For a crop operation, these include areas such as new agricultural products, new scopes, new land, or new inputs.

For a handler or processor, the form asks about new products, labels, facilities, and materials used.

The sooner PJRFSI knows about important changes to your organic operation the sooner we can work together to include these in your organic certification.

For renewal certification, the fee due with your application is based on your organic sales the previous year. First complete the Sales Information section of your Annual Update to total your organic sales from the previous year. PJRFSI will send an amendment that outlines the fees that are due.

Call or email PJRFSI!.
Email: organic@pjrfsi.com
Phone: (248) 519-2523