international

Effective July 13, 2022, National Organic Program (NOP) import certificates are required for all shipments from India. In addition, TraceNet certificates of inspection from the Agricultural and Processed Foods Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) are also required. Importers and operations that are the first certified organic businesses in the United States to purchase or receive imported goods from India are required to maintain these documents on site and to make them available for inspection.

The USDA has ended the U.S.–India Recognition Arrangement. After July 12, 2022, all imports from India to be represented as organic in the United States must be purchased from suppliers who have been granted certification with a USDA-accredited certifier. The United States will no longer accept certification granted by APEDA-accredited certifiers.

If you source organic products or ingredients from India, visit the Organic Integrity Database to verify your supplier's status as certified.

Global demand for USDA organic products continues to increase, and the pandemic has only accelerated this trend. As the nation's largest organic certifier, CCOF is well-equipped to provide the necessary review and export documentation to sell certified USDA products in many international markets, including Canada, the EU, Japan, Korea, Mexico, and others. Access our international flyer for a full list of markets. 

El 26 de junio de 2021 entra en vigor un reglamento de importación mexicano que afecta a los productos orgánicos. Este reglamento establece que los envíos de ciertos productos orgánicos (enumerados en las secciones b-f del Anexo 1) deben ir acompañados con un documento de control o transacción. Consulte con su importador para determinar si sus exportaciones requieren un documento de control.

On June 16, 2021, Mexico’s agriculture secretariat (SADER) extended the deadline for its import regulation affecting organic exports to Mexico. View the official notice of extension here.

A new Mexican import regulation affecting organic products goes into effect on June 26, 2021. The regulation requires a control or transaction document to accompany shipment of certain organic commodities (listed in Annex 1 sections b-f). Work with your importer to determine if your exports require a control document.

The United States and Canada announced the expansion of their organic equivalency arrangements with Japan to include livestock products, effective July 16, 2020. This reduces costs and streamlines the process for anyone involved in the organic livestock supply chain by requiring only one organic certification. 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has clarified their import policy for USDA certified organic products traded under the United States-Canada Organic Equivalence Arrangement (USCOEA). 

As of April 30, 2020, all certified USDA organic products imported to Canada must be accompanied by an organic certificate that includes the following attestation statement: “Certified in accordance with the terms of the U.S. – Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement.” 

The United States and Taiwan have signed a new organic equivalence arrangement, effective May 30, 2020. This equivalency allows USDA National Organic Program organic and Taiwan organic products that are grown or produced or have their final processing or packaging in the United States or Taiwan to be sold as organic in either market. This eliminates the need for organic operators to have separate organic certifications to the United States and Taiwan standards, which avoids a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork.