All Operations
Answers about organic compliance and CCOF services that apply to all operation types. Start here!
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All Operations FAQs
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Action Item Tracker - What is it and how do I use it?
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Are my operation’s activities a good fit for CCOF’s food safety certification?
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Are organic claims allowed on my website or marketing?
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Are there resources to help me build a Food Safety Plan?
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Can I label my organic product as non-GMO?
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Can I update my online organic directory profile?
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Can I use CCOF’s "Non-GMO & More" seal?
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Can I use the USDA seal on my organic product?
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Can I view my inputs/materials in MyCCOF?
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Can I view my outstanding balances with CCOF and pay online?
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Can you certify my farming or processing input?
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CCOF provides individualized training on how to maintain your Organic System Plan in our systems!
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Do I need to report all my input materials to CCOF?
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Does CCOF offer an expedited/rush certification program?
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Does CCOF organic certification ensure international market access?
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Does CCOF Perform Pesticide Residue and GMO Testing?
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Does CCOF perform unannounced inspections?
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Does CCOF provide online services?
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Does non-GMO mean GMO-free?
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Does use of CCOF’s "Organic is Non-GMO & More" Seal cost more money?
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How and how often do I update my Food Safety Certification Plan with CCOF?
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How can I check the status of my Action Items and OSP Updates?
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How can I control the cost of my organic inspection?
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How can I get ready for my Food Safety Audit?
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How can I label my certified organic products?
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How can I prepare for the audit trail portion of my inspection?
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How do I address organic complaints and problems in the marketplace?
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How do I control certification costs?
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How do I find an organic consultant or ag advisor?
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How do I get a copy of attachments to emails from CCOF?
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How do I get a copy of my Inspection Report?
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How do I get contact information for my upcoming inspection?
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How do I get copies of my certificates?
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How do I get organic certification?
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How do I interpret the post-inspection review result?
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How do I know if the organic certificate my supplier sent me is valid?
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How do I log in to MyCCOF? How do I get help with login issues?
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How do I submit a request to update my profile (add acreage, add product, OSP updates, etc.)?
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How do I update my contact information or contacts?
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How do I update my Organic System Plan (OSP)?
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How do I view the contact information for my operation and see my authorized contacts?
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How do organic inspections work?
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How do PrimusGFS and GLOBALG.A.P compare?
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How do the UDSA NOP organic regulations and the OCal regulations compare?
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How long does it take for CCOF to update my Organic System Plan (OSP)?
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How long does it take to become OCal certified with CCOF?
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How long does it take to get Food Safety Certification? How much does it cost?
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How long does it take to get the results of my inspection?
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How long does organic certification take?
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How much does organic certification with CCOF cost?
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How should I get ready for my inspection?
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I am a contact for multiple operations. How do I access information for each operation?
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I am an exporter, how many NOP Import Certificates do I need?
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I am an organic operation interested in growing OCal certified cannabis on my certified organic farm/manufacturing cannabis products at my certified organic facility. Can I transfer my organic certification to OCal?
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If I have a new label, do I need to send it to CCOF?
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Should I inform CCOF if I am moving my operation to a new address?
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Should I notify CCOF if my business ownership or name has changed?
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The CCOF certification staff told me they cannot advise me on materials. Is help available?
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What about organic inspections?
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What are my options for food safety certification? Is there only one standard for farms?
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What are the key components to a Food Safety Plan?
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What if I disagree with a CCOF certification decision or action?
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What if I pay my bill but do not complete the renewal contract or vice versa?
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What if I'm currently certified by a different certification agency?
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What is a lot number?
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What is an Audit Trail?
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What is MyCCOF?
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What is the Organic System Plan (OSP)?
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What is the process to receive PrimusGFS Food Safety?
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What is the renewal process?
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What logos and claims can I put on my OCal certified product?
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What MUST be on my certified organic product label?
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What resources are available regarding GMOs and organic production?
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What resources are available to help me with my certification and recordkeeping?
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What standards does CCOF certify to?
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What type of changes require an update to my California State Organic Program (SOP) registration?
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What types of information should I send to CCOF?
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What will happen at my organic inspection?
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What/Who is GFSI and why does it matter?
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What/Who is PrimusGFS?
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When should I update my Organic System Plan (OSP)?
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Which Primus GFS standard is best for my business?
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Who can apply for OCal Certification?
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Who needs to register with the California State Organic Program (SOP)?
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Why do I need an organic inspection?
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Why should I be certified with CCOF?
Farmer FAQs
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Am I allowed to confine my animals if they are certified organic?
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Are the grazing season requirements different from those in organic?
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Are there any ruminant animals that are exempt from the 30% DMI during the grazing season?
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Are vaccines allowed in organic livestock production?
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Can a poultry or hog operation apply for the Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program?
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Can I certify the livestock I currently own as organic?
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Can I keep animals that have been treated with prohibited materials together with my organic animals?
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Can I put a grass-fed logo on my products?
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Can I sell an organic dairy animal as slaughter stock?
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Can I store organic and nonorganic feed in the same barn?
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Can I transfer parcels between CCOF certified operations?
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Can I use a non-organic feed for organic livestock?
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Can I use antibiotics on my animals and still maintain their organic status?
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Can I use any slaughter facility to process my organic animals?
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Can I use compost?
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Can I use de-wormers to treat animals for parasites?
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Can I use treated lumber for my replacement fence posts or to repair my barn?
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Can I use treated seed?
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Can non-organic animals be pastured on organic land?
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Can non-organic animals ever become organic?
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Can supplemental feed be given?
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Do feed supplements and additives need to be certified organic?
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Do my transplants have to be organic?
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Does CCOF certify hemp products?
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Does CCOF offer Transitional Certification?
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How are hydroponic and container-based systems certified organic?
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How can I find a certified organic slaughter facility?
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How can my CCOF Certified Transitional products be labeled?
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How do I add a crop to my Client Profile?
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How do I add a new parcel to my CCOF certification?
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How does Food Safety Certification from CCOF benefit me as an organic farmer?
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How is the health of organic livestock maintained?
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How many days do organic ruminants need to spend on pasture?
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I am an exporter, how do I request an NOP Import Certificate?
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If I am CCOF Certified Transitional will I have to be inspected?
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If I join CCOF as a certified transitional producer, do I get the same benefits as other CCOF members?
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If I seek organic certification, do all of the animals on my farm have to be managed organically?
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Is on-farm slaughter allowed?
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My operation is already organic and grass-fed. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of in applying for the Certified Grass-Fed Organic Livestock Program?
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What about organic seed, transplants, and commercial availability?
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What are the land requirements for wild crops?
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What are the requirements for manure use?
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What are the specific rules for ruminant animals?
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What buffers are required for organic parcels?
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What does "certified transitional" mean?
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What if I am subject to an emergency pest or disease eradication spray or treatment situation?
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What if I have specific questions about my farming practices?
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What if someone else provides me with seed or planting stock?
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What is a hydroponic or container-based system?
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What is a wild crop and how does one get certified organic?
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What is dry matter and why is this important?
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What is the annual fee for the CCOF Certified Transitional program?
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What is the difference between a “transitioned” and “last third” animal?
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What materials (fertility, pest control, inoculants, potting media, seed treatments, vaccines, heath care treatments, etc.) can I use for organic crops and livestock?
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What records do I need to maintain for certified organic livestock?
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What/Who is GLOBALG.A.P.?
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Where can I buy potting soil for organic gardening?
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Where can I get more information about food safety as an organic farmer?
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Where can I get more information about managing organic livestock?
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Where do I find organic seed and planting stock?
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Which crops require a 120 day pre-harvest interval when manure is applied?
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Which GLOBALG.A.P. standard is best for my business?
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Why can’t I add cannabis as a crop or product to my Organic System Plan?
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Why should I enroll my operation in the CCOF Certified Transitional program?
Handler FAQs
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Can CCOF help me obtain certification to the Japanese Agriculture Standard (JAS)?
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Can I buy organic ingredients from a local retailer or an online retailer?
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Can I certify a single department/menu item?
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Can I get my commercial kitchen certified for others to use for organic production?
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Can I make a certified organic product in an uncertified facility?
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Can I store organic and non-organic ingredients in the same storage area?
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Can I use a shared commercial kitchen to make my products?
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Can I use an off-site storage facility to store and distribute my products?
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How can I certify my organic body care/personal care/cosmetic product?
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How can I use USDA’s Integrity database to verify my suppliers are certified?
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How do I add a new product to my organic certificate?
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How do I control pests in my facility?
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How do water and salt affect my product labeling?
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I am an exporter, how do I request an NOP Import Certificate?
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I am an importer and have applied for CCOF certification but I am not yet certified. Can I keep importing?
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I am an importer, how do I request an NOP Import Certificate?
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I am an importer, what do I need to know?
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I broker/wholesale/distribute products, how often should I update my supplier list?
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I process organic and non-organic products. What additional measures do I need to take?
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I provide services, what do I need to do when processing for other organic operations?
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If I buy certified organic coffee beans from a local certified coffee roaster, how can I label the bulk bins which are used to sell the coffee?
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If I just want to identify the organic ingredients in my ingredient statement, does the product have to be certified?
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We purchase an organic product from a small local producer who is exempt (less than $5,000 sales) from certification. How can we label the product on our shelf tags?
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What are export and transaction certificates? How do I request one?
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What cleaners or sanitizers can I use?
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What do I need to do to ship my product to the European Union?
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What do I need to send to CCOF if I am a private label owner and my products are processed by a certified co-packer?
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What do I need to send to CCOF if I co-pack products for another company's private label?
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What is a CN number?
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What is the 'National List' for processed products?
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What non-organic ingredients can I use in my product labeled “Made with Organic (specific ingredients)?”
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What non-organic ingredients/materials can I use in or on my organic processed product?
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Where can I find CCOF forms for Handlers?
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Where can I find organic ingredients for my products?
Retailer FAQs
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Can I buy organic ingredients from a local retailer or an online retailer?
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Do retailers have to be certified?
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I handle both organic and conventional products at my store/restaurant, can I still be certified?
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I have a restaurant and I buy a lot of certified organic ingredients. Can my menu identify these items as organic without being certified?
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What are the benefits of organic certification for retail stores?
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What sort of records should retailers maintain to demonstrate compliance with the regulations?