Essential Elements of Organic Certification Standards

The essential elements of the OC/PRO International Organic Standards and The National Standard of Canada for organic crop production are as follows: 

1. Pesticides, fertilizers and genetically modified organisms (GMO's), are prohibited from use.
2. A transition or conversion period of at least three seasons is applicable before compliance.
3. Organic cropland must be isolated from the conventionally treated cropland and pesticide treated right-of-ways by at least 8 meters (25 feet). Any grain or forage grown on the isolation zones must be harvested, stored, and sold as conventional produce.
4. All soil amendments and production inputs must be assessed by OCPP Ontario Inc., in the context of necessity and intended use.
5. The producer must adopt soil and crop management practices which minimize soil degradation and which can be sustained on an ongoing basis.
6. Individual fields within a conventional farm unit are eligible for certification provided that:
   • The producer can demonstrate the ability to physically isolate the organic produce from conventional produce at all times, and that
   • The producer has a realistic 10 year plan for the conversion of the balance of the farm to organic production. Exemptions from this requirement may be granted.
7. Produce storage facilities must be maintained and cleaned on an annual basis and must be free of pesticides. Storage buildings and bins must be identified with permanent numbers or letters.
8. Farming implements, tractors, trucks, grain augers, etc. must be adequately maintained to prevent contamination of produce with lubricants, fuel, and other fluids. Harvesting equipment which is also used for conventional produce must be thoroughly cleaned before use on organic cropland.
9. The producer must monitor soil quality on a periodic basis and in a manner appropriate for his soil.
10. The producer must maintain detailed records of field history, input use and production disposition.

The complete OC/PRO standard may be obtained from the OCPP Ontario Inc. office. The National Standard may be obtained from the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) document # CAN/CGSB-32.310-99.
 

Conformity and Accreditation

OCPP Ontario Inc. standard operating policies and procedures (SOP'S) conform with the International Organization for Standardization/International Electrotechnical Commission (ISO/IEC) Guide 65:1996(E).

The OCPP Ontario Inc. SOP'S and standard also conform with European Economic Community (EEC) Regulation #2092/91 which is the EEC organic standard.

Independent accreditation of OCPP Ontario Inc. compliance with ISO and EEC requirements for organic certification bodies via Venn zur Begutachtung von Prufstellen (VBP) is valid until September 27 of the year 2004. 

OCPP/Pro-Cert Alliance