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OCal Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is creating a cannabis program that will be comparable to the National Organic Program, the federal regulatory program that develops and enforces uniform national standards for organically produced agricultural products sold in the United States. California’s OCal Program will begin on January 1, 2021, and applicants will be required to hold an active state cannabis license.

Help us assess interest in a California comparable-to-organic cannabis certification by completing a short survey

Public Meetings

• CalCannabis Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Working Group Meeting November 4, 2019, Notice and Agenda
• CalCannabis Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Working Group Meeting July 24, 2019, Notice and Agenda | Minutes of the July 24, 2019, Meeting
• CalCannabis Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Working Group Meeting June 25, 2019, Notice and Agenda
• CalCannabis Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Working Group Meeting May 15, 2019, Notice and Agenda
• CalCannabis Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Working Group Meeting February 12, 2019, Notice and Agenda

Resources From the USDA National Organic Program

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s OCal Comparable-to-Organic Cannabis Program will be comparable to the National Organic Program (NOP). The following NOP resources may be helpful to those who want to learn more about the program.

• Organic Certification Made Simple (video series)
• “The Road to Organic Certification” (video)
• What Is Organic Certification?

Tip Sheets

• Guidelines for Organic Crop Certification
• Organic Certification Guidelines Q&A

References and Resources

• National Center for Appropriate Technology’s National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (also known as ATTRA): Organic Farming
• National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
• National Organic Program Handbook
  This compilation of guidance documents, policy memos, and instructions is intended to clarify policies, and assist those who own, manage, or certify organic operations with complying with National Organic Program regulations.
• National Organic Program Regulations (Electronic Code of Federal Regulations)
  7 Code of Federal Regulations Part 205 includes all USDA organic standards, including prohibited practices and requirements