Requirement Of Crop Production Certification

• Land must have no prohibited substances applied to it for at least 2 years before sowing in case of annual and biennial crops and 3 years after the first harvest of an organic crop in the case of perennial crops. Note: For NOP-USDA; Land must have no prohibited substances applied to it for at least 3 years before prior to harvest of the first certified organic crop.


• Soil fertility and crop nutrients will be managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, and cover crops, supplemented with animal and crop waste materials and allowed inputs.


• Operations must use certified organic seeds and planting stock. If certified organic seed and plant materials are not available, chemically untreated conventional seed and plant material must be used.


• Crop pests, weeds, and diseases will be controlled primarily through management practices, including physical, mechanical, and biological controls. When these practices are not sufficient, a biological, botanical, or allowed input may be used.


• The use of genetic engineering, transgenic plant or plant material, ionizing radiation and sewage sludge is prohibited.


• Maintenance of buffer zones, depending on the risk of contamination.


• Take preventive measures to avoid contamination and commingling during growing, harvest, storage and handling of the crop produce.


• Implementation of an Organic System Plan, with proactive fertility systems; conservation measures; environmentally sound manure, weed, disease, and pest management practices; and soil building crop rotation systems.


• All records pertaining to production, storage, purchase and sales available and maintain all records at least five years beyond its creation.