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California Organic Program
CDFA’s Organic Program is responsible for enforcement of the federal Organic Foods Production Act of 1990, and the California Organic Products Act of 2003. These statutes protect consumers, producers, handlers, processors and retailers by establishment of standards under which fresh agricultural products/foods may be labeled and/or sold as “organic”. The California Department of Public Health enforces laws pertaining to processed products marketed as “organic”.
Enforcement activities are coordinated with the California Organic Products Advisory Committee, the USDA and California County Agricultural Commissioners. Activities include: program administration, County biologist training, initiation of complaint investigation, registration of private certification organizations, and act as an information resource on the California Organic Products Act and California’s organic industry.
CDFA’s Organic Program is funded entirely by industry registration fees, a portion of which is used to support County enforcement activities.
Listening Sessions for Organic Regulations
The following proposed regulations are submitted to the public for comment prior to submittal to the Office of Administrative Law. Consequently, the formal regulatory process has not commenced and these proposed regulations are being released to facilitate public discussion and input.
California Code of Regulations
TITLE 3. Food and Agriculture
ARTICLE 6.1. Appeal and Mediation Procedures SECTIONS 1391 - 1381.8 The proposed regulations are intended to
(1) adopt the National Organic Program Regulations by reference, and
(2) further clarify and extend the provisions of the Organic Program intent, inspection and sampling program, compliant investigations, and registration process.
Proposed Text
For questions about the Regulation, please contact: David Carlson
ORGANIC REGISTRATION:
Every person engaged in the state of California in the production or handling of raw agricultural products sold as organic, and retailers that are engaged in the production of products sold as organic, and retailers that are engaged in the processing, as defined by the NOP, of products sold as organic, shall register with the State Organic Program. If the expected organic gross sales exceed $5,000, certification may be required prior to registration.
New and Amended Organic Registrations:
New and Amended applications for organic registration must be completed and submitted to the County Commissioner of the Principal County of operation prior to the first sale of the product.
Renewing Organic Registration:
Each organic registrant must annually renew the registration unless no longer engaged in the activities requiring the registration. The State Organic Program will issue a renewal application 60 days prior to the expiration of the registration.
Attached are forms needed for renewing your organic registration; however is not the complete renewal application. To obtain the “Organic Producers/Handlers/Processors Application and Registration” form, please contact the SOP.
BECOMING ORGANIC CERTIFIED:
In accordance with the California Organic Products Act of 2003 and the National Organic Program if your annual gross sales are more than $5,000.00 you may be required by law to be certified.
If certification is required, certification must be attained prior to organic registration. Attached is a list of accredited certification agencies in the state of California.
COST SHARE PROGRAM:
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has provided funds to the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) to be distributed to operations that have been certified organic by a USDA accredited certifier.
The applicant must submit the application form(s) along with a copy(s) of certification and copy(s) of the associated expenses required to obtain and/or maintain certification and the completed form STD 204.
ORGANIC COMPLAINTS:
A complaint may be filed by any person alleging a violation or problem with an organic product or production process. The California State Organic Program (SOP) accepts complaints via phone, email, fax, or mail. SOP staff determines the appropriate entity to resolve the issue, e.g., accredited certifying agency personnel, county agricultural commissioner personnel, SOP inspectors, court administrators, or arbitration specialists.
Organic Sales Reports |
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Producer Acreage and Sales by County |
Producer and Handler Sales by County |
Producer Acreage and Sales Statewide | Producer and Handler Sales Statewide |
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) - USDA’s AFSIC staff have developed the following informational briefs in response to a significant level of interest:
