California'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".
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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 National Organic Program, of products sold
as organic; SHALL register with the State Organic Program. If the expected
organic gross sales exceed $5,000, certification by an outside certifying
agent is also required.
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 Your 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 30 days prior to the expiration of the registration.
Below are forms needed for renewing your organic registration. You may complete
and submit your renewal directly to the California Department of Food and
Agriculture., You may also delete sites/acreage from your renewal by simply
noting same upon your Organic Producers/Handlers/Processors Application and
Registration and attaching it to your renewal form. If you are adding
acreage/sites to your registration, you must file an AMENDED Registration
through your County Agricultural Commissioner's office.
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Becoming Certified Organic
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 are required by law to be certified. (7CFR205.100)
Attached is a list of accredited certification agencies in the state of California.
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The United States Department of Agriculture has provided funds to the California Department of Food and
Agriculture for distribution to operations that have been certified organic by a USDA accredited
certifier to offset the cost of initial certification.
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.
For additional information regarding the California Organic Program, you may visit the
California Department of Food and Agriculture's (CDFA) Website
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