NOP Organic Inputs Registry
Products Approved for Use in Organics by OIA North America
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About the Registry and Products Approved for Use in Organic Production and Handling
OIA North America, as a USDA accredited certifying agency has the responsibility and authority to approve products for use in organic production and handling. OIA North America's NOP Organic Inputs Review Registry lists the products of manufacturers or distributors who have applied for approval through OIA North America including submitting all required information on their process, procedures, and ingredients, have received an onsite inspection by OIA North America, and have been determined to be in compliance with the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program for the specific products listed in the registry.
While OIA North America cannot and does not warrant the effectiveness of the products, nor any of the label claims unrelated to the requirements of the USDA National Organic Program, OIA North America has determined that the products listed in the registry meet the requirements applicable to the product under the USDA National Organic Program.
Where restrictions apply to the use of the product under the USDA National Organic Program, such restrictions are listed in the registry listing for the product.
Always be sure to receive advance approval from your certifier before using ANY input on your certified organic farm, on a product to be labeled as organic, or in your organic facility.
To download the most recent copy of the Registry, please click here.
To learn more about the Registry, or to learn how to apply to get your product listed in the Registry, please scroll down.
Information for Manufacturers and Distributors Interested in Having Products Listed in the Registry
I. Introduction
One of the greatest challenges to certified organic operations is the sourcing of inputs for use in organic production and handling. The USDA National Organic Program Final Rule sets firm limits on the types of materials that can be used in organic production and handling. Often, it is left up to the operator or the certifier to determine on a case by case basis if a particular material is allowed under the USDA National Organic Program Final Rule. To aid the makers and users of these products in knowing which products comply with the USDA NOP rules, OIA North America has developed its Organic Input Review Registry to review products and assess their compliance with the USDA National Organic Program Final Rule and to register those products which comply. The register is intended to be a resource for organic producers and handlers seeking to source products which comply with the USDA National Organic Program Final Rule.
II. How it Works
An input manufacturer or supplier who intends to submit a product for review and listing on the registry must complete an application form which requests detailed information about the product’s ingredients, method of manufacture, and ingredient suppliers. In many cases, confidential and proprietary information will have to be disclosed; OIA North America agrees to maintain confidentiality of such information. OIA North America begins the assesment through a desk audit of the information provided and confirms the information through onsite inspection. When OIA North America has collected and verified all of the information necessary to make a determination of compliance, it issues a registration decision. Products that appear to comply with the USDA National Organic Program Final Rule will be listed on the OIA North America Organic Input Review Registry for a period of one year. Operations must reapply and go through the approval process annually to maintain a listing on the registry. There is a per product fee charged for the verification process.
III. Limitations on Use of Registry Approval Status
Any operator applying for listing on the registry should be aware of the limitations of the registry approval. Approved manufacturers may use the registry status and the registry approval certificate on their website and other marketing materials so long as OIA North America approves the materials and they are not misleading. One important limitation that manufactures must be aware of is that each USDA approved certifying agent has an independent authority and responsibility to review materials for their own certified growers and producers. As such, a listing on the OIA North America registry is not a blanket approval. Each certifier may choose to accept the OIA North America registry listing or they may insist on doing their own review when one of their clients chooses to use the product in question. Accordingly, registrants should make this limitation clear to their own customers.
Contact OIA North America if you would like more information on having your product reviewed for listing on the regsitry.
