OCIA International Organic Crop Improvement Association Organic Certification

Accreditation Programs

OCIA maintains accreditation with these organizations:

• IFOAM-International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements
• JAS-Japan Agriculture Standards
• NOP-National Organic Program (USDA)
• CAAQ conseil des Appellations Agroalimentaires du Quebec, Canada
• MAG-The Costa Rica Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock
• ISO Guide 65-USDA

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)

IFOAM's Website

OCIA's IFOAM accredited certification program is your product's passport into many European, Canadian and other international markets. The OCIA International Standards are established by OCIA Members and accredited by IFOAM. Certification to these standards allows for the OCIA seal to be used. Certifying to these standards allows for products to be imported into many countries that do not have established organic certification programs. While many European countries accept IFOAM-accredited certified product for import, several European Union member nations are now requiring EU 2092/91 verification for import.

Japan Agriculture Standards (JAS)

OCIA has Registered Foreign Certification Organization (RFCO) status from Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). This means expanded marketing opportunities for you. The JAS Certification Program is offered to OCIA Associates and Members to allow for products to be sold into Japan. Members/associates can certify through the OCIA International office in Lincoln, or through OCIA-Japan depending on their location. This certification requires additional questionnaires and documents for application.

United States National Organic Program (NOP)

Want to sell your organic product in the United States? OCIA has National Organic Program-accredited organic certification services that you need to succeed! The NOP is the law that allows for products to be sold as organic in the United States. OCIA is accredited by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for this program.

OCIA's CAAQ accreditation puts Québec's thriving organic market at your fingertips! This certification program allows for product to be sold as Organic in Quebec. It is based primarily on the OCIA International standards. There are additional standards that must be reviewed in order to determine if an applicant is compliant with this program. This program is required of any member/associate requesting certification in Quebec. Products that are certified to the U.S. NOP outside of Quebec may be brought into Quebec without additional review based on the CAAQ's implementation of an agreement of equivalence with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, NOP program.

Costa Rica Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG)

Whether you're buying or selling, OCIA certification can give you access to Central America's premier organic markets, including Costa Rica.

ISO Guide 65

European Union 2092/91 organic regulations

This is the regulation that covers what organic production is for member states of the European Union. The EU 2092/91 is the equivalent in the European Union of what the NOP is in the US. However, it only establishes a minimum standard for organic production. Individual member states may have higher standards. This is often required for Import.

JAS Equivalency

This is a verification that OCIA performs for members and associates to verify that Lignin Sulfonate, Alkali-Extracted Humic Acid & Potassium Bicarbonate have not been used in the growing, or manufacture of their product. JAS Equivalency allows for NOP certified product to be exported to Japan, providing the applicant will be shipping to a JAS certified importer that is willing to affix the JAS Seal in Japan, or be processed by a JAS certified processor/manufacturer in the United States. This is required for issuance of a USDA Agricultural Marketing Services Certificate (AMS or TM-11 Form) of export.

Bio-Suisse

Bio-Suisse, based in Switzerland, is a certifier much like OCIA. They certify to several different programs such as the Swiss Ordinance of Organic Farming and to their own set of standards. OCIA facilitates certification for their members to Bio-Suisse, but does not make the final decision. An additional questionnaire must be completed to apply for Bio-Suisse.

Swiss Ordinance of Organic Farming

This is a verification to the minimum standard for organic production in Switzerland. This verification is required for import to Switzerland.