402.477.2323 info@ocia.org

Why certify with OCIA International?

OCIA International global head quarters is located in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Who is OCIA International?

OCIA International is one of the world’s oldest, largest, and most trusted leaders in the organic certification industry. Founded in 1985, OCIA International provides comprehensive organic certification services to members in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Nicaragua, and Japan.

The work of OCIA International is straightforward and mission driven. We believe in, and we are committed to, environmentally sound stewardship. 

What does that mean for you? It’s simple. We want you to succeed in your organic certification journey, and we will support you in that journey every step of the way. We support processors as they transition from conventional to organic practices, and our support continues throughout the annual renewal process.

 

Services offered by OCIA International

We are proud to serve thousands of organic farmers, processors, and handlers throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Guatemala, Peru, Nicaragua, and Japan. Globally, we certify over 1.2 millian organic acres.

Because we are a global agency, we are able to provide certification services in a variety of markets. What does this mean for you? Operators who wish to sell organic products in multiple countries have access to the global market through OCIA.

OCIA Certification Services

OCIA International is authorized by noted authorities to provide certification*  for the following markets:

    • USDA for the US National Organic Program (NOP) — US market access
    • CFIA for the Canada Organic Regime (COR) — Canadian market access
    • MAFF for the Japanese Organic Agricultural Standards (JAS) — Japanese market access
    • SENASA for the Technical Regulations for Organic Products — Peruvian market access
    • Servicio Nacional de Sanidad, Inocuidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria (SENASICA) for the Reglamento de la Ley de Productos Orgánicos (LPO) — Mexican market access
    • OCIA International is accredited by IOAS for the scope of product certification. Registration number: 30. Please refer to www.ioas.org/accreditation/accredited-bodies for current information. The latest accreditation certificate can be found here. IOAS accredits/assesses OCIA for ISO/IEC Guide 17065, the Canada Organic Regime (COR), and IACB European Union Equivalent Standards (EU), Reglamento técnico paral los productos orgánicos (RTPO), and Reglamento de la Ley de Productos Orgánicos (LPO).

*Note: Certification in multiple markets is not automatically granted. Operators who wish to obtain organic certification through multiple national agencies must meet all organic regulations for all organizations.

Harvest from above

Verification Programs

OCIA can verify your product as organic to these international standards and organic equivalency arrangements:

Equivalent European Union Organic Production Processing Standard for Third Countries

    • This standard and OCIA’s policies and procedures have been found equivalent by the European Commission to the EU 834/2007 & the 889/2008 regulations. Verification to this program will allow your organic product to be exported to any EU member state.

JAS Equivalency

    • This is a verification that OCIA performs for certified operators located within the United States. 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.

US-Canada Organic Equivalence Arrangement

    • The United States and Canada have an organic equivalence arrangement. This means that as long as the terms of the arrangement are met, organic operations certified to the USDA organic or Canada Organic Regime standards may be labeled and sold as organic in both countries. The equivalency arrangement is only available for operations certified to either the NOP or the COR.

    Smithsonian Bird Friendly

      • This program is exclusive to coffee growers as a collaborative effort between OCIA and the Smithsonian Institute that promotes bird conservation, healthy environments, and biodiversity.

    Shade-Grown Coffee

      • A value-added program for certified organic coffee producers, which encourages shade-grown practices to promote biodiversity, natural habitat, and minimize deforestation of coffee ecosystems.

    Why should you certify with OCIA?

    We know that choosing an organic certification agency is one of the most important decisions you can make for your business. When you certify with OCIA International, you certify with a trusted and reliable agency with a proven track record.

    Whether your operation specializes in production, processing, or handling, we provide the highest quality organic certification services. And others agree. The Cornucopia Institute has consistently rated OCIA International as an exemplary certifier—the highest qualification possible.

    Aerial view of farmland.

    When you certify with OCIA International, you certify with an organization that is:

    • Supportive. Our chapter-based system means that support is never far away. Chapter members participate in local meetings and field days that provide farmer-to-farmer knowledge and assistance.
    • Cost effective. Chapter members  and direct associates benefit from a straightforward fee structure that provides high quality services at an economical price.
    • Member-run. OCIA members in the US, Canada, and Latin America have the option to attend annual meetings to elect the board of directors, attend organic workshops, and learn from peers.
    • Organized. Our Transaction Certificate (TC) System allows OCIA certified operators to easily maintain the necessary audit trail documentation in one convenient location, ensuring that organic products can be easily traced through the chain of custody.
    • Global. Certification with OCIA means you not only have access to regional markets but also the option to pursue multiple organic certifications in international markets. Our certifiers work with the United States National Organic Program (NOP), Canadian Organic Regime (COR), and Japan Organic Agricultural Standards (JAS).

    But the good news doesn’t stop there!

    OCIA International also provides new direct associates with a 20% discount on their during their first year of membership, and a 10% discount on certification fees during their second year of membership.  New  chapter members are eligible for a $200 coupon valid for their first year of membership. This, combined with the ORGANIC CERTIFICATION COST SHARE PROGRAM (OCCSP), helps ensure that OCIA International certification is affordable and attainable for operators regardless of the size of their operation.

     

     

    Let's Connect!

    We want to hear from you, regardless of where you are in your organic certification journey.

    Complete the contact form below, and an OCIA International representative will contact you within two business days.

    Ready to begin your transition to organic?

    We’re excited that you are considering OCIA International for your organic certification needs! We know that the organic certification process can be stressful. There is so much information to learn and absorb! But you don’t have to go through the certification process alone. Complete the contact form below, and an OCIA International representative will be in touch within two business days.

    If you’ve already begun the certification process and have a specific question, feel free to reach out to your certification coordinator directly, or call us at +1 (402) 477-2323.

    Contact us today! -- OCIA Contact Form

    OCIA International main contact form.

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    Please select the scope of the operation you would like certified. If you would like to certify under multiple scopes (ex: crops and livestock) please select "Other" and explain in your message.
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    Please let us know what's on your mind. Have a question for us? Ask away.

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    CONFIRM SUBMISSION

    Thank you for submitting your organic certification application! OCIA looks forward to working with you.

    For applicants who are new or currently under suspension, please see the end of the page for some important notes.

    An estimate for your 2023 certification and inspection fees was sent with the login information. Please promptly send payment to the address on the invoice. If you are a new applicant, OCIA will not review your file until payment is received.

    If you are submitting hardcopies of any supporting documents, please mail them to the address on the invoice. Failure to submit required supporting documents may lead to delays in the review.

    Once a complete file is received, OCIA will complete a pre-inspection review. During this process, OCIA will contact you if additional information is needed. Please respond to any communication from OCIA in a timely manner.

    Please contact OCIA International if you have any questions.

    New applicants: Please be reminded that as a new applicant, your operation currently cannot label or sell product as organic. If organic certification is granted, an organic certificate will be issued and product can then be sold as organic.

    For farm operations, the inspector must see your crop in the field, so check-strips must be left in all fields requested for certification if any harvest occurs prior to inspection. For hay fields, any hay harvested prior to inspection cannot be certified as organic.

    For suspended operations: Please be aware that no product can be sold as “organic” while suspended and previous product is no longer “organic.” For farm operations, any crops currently in storage are no longer organic and must be sold conventionally. Only crops harvested after reinstatement, if it is granted, may be sold as “organic.” Any crops harvested from fields prior to reinstatement must be sold conventionally.

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    CONFIRMAR LA SOLICITUD

    ¡Gracias por enviar su solicitud de certificación orgánica! OCIA espera trabajar con usted. Para los solicitantes que son nuevos o están actualmente suspendidos, consulte el final de la página para conocer información importante.

    Se le envió un estimado de los honorarios de certificación e inspección 2023 con la información de inicio de sesión. Envíe puntualmente el pago a la dirección que figura en la factura. Si usted es un nuevo solicitante, OCIA no revisará su expediente hasta que se reciba el pago.

    Si envía copias impresas de cualquier documento de respaldo, envíelas por correo a la dirección que figura en la factura. Se podrá producir demoras en la revisión si no se envían los documentos de respaldo necesarios,.

    Una vez que se recibe un expediente completo, OCIA llevará a cabo una revisión de preinspección. Durante este proceso, OCIA se comunicará con usted si necesita información adicional. Responda a cualquier comunicación de OCIA de manera oportuna.

    Póngase en contacto con OCIA International si tiene alguna pregunta.

    Para los solicitantes nuevos: recuerde que, como solicitante nuevo, su operación actualmente no puede etiquetar o vender productos como orgánicos. Si se otorga la certificación orgánica, se emitirá un certificado orgánico y el producto se podrá vender como orgánico.

    Para las operaciones agrícolas, el inspector debe ver su cultivo en el campo, por lo que si se produce alguna cosecha antes de la inspección, se deben dejar franjas o surcos de verificación en todos los campos solicitados para la certificación. Para los campos de heno, cualquier heno cosechado antes de la inspección no puede certificarse como orgánico.

    Para operaciones suspendidas: tenga en cuenta que ningún producto puede venderse como "orgánico" mientras está suspendido y que el producto anterior ya no es "orgánico". Para las operaciones agrícolas, cualquier cultivo actualmente almacenado ya no es orgánico y debe venderse de manera convencional. Solo los cultivos cosechados después del restablecimiento, si se otorga, pueden venderse como "orgánicos". Cualquier cultivo cosechado de los campos antes de la reinstalación debe venderse de manera convencional ".

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    Submission Successful

    Thank you for submitting your organic certification application! OCIA looks forward to working with you.

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    ¡Gracias por enviar su solicitud de certificación orgánica! OCIA espera trabajar con usted.

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