EU Certification Program
Brief overview of the OTCO's EU certification program and related FAQs
OTCO Included in List Of EU Approved Certifiers
Oregon Tilth is pleased to be among an exclusive group of International Certifiers approved for direct export to EU Member States after 1 July 2012.
Recognition as an Approved 3rd Country Certifier will allow OTCO clients certified to the EU Regulation direct market access to any of the 27 EU Member States without going through the current mandatory, and arduous, Import Authorization Process. OTCO was one of 73 applicants in the first round of approval, of which only 30 were approved on 5 December 2011. OTCO will continue to work with our EU Exporters under the current system until the revised regulations become effective on July 2012. Download the press release (pdf)
Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) offers a proactive service to further evaluate USDA National Organic Program NOP certified crop and handling operations for equivalence with European Union (EU) organic standards established in European Council Regulations EC 834/2007 and 889/2008. This service will benefit OTCO operators whose NOP certified crops and products are sold to a processor, handler and/or distributor exporting to the EU.
Evaluation of equivalence is done through the use of a set of Private Standards titled ACB EU Equivalent Standard, formally named; Accredited Certification Bodies Equivalent European Union Organic Production & Processing Standard for Third Countries. In addition to the NOP Organic System Plan (Application), operators will need to submit an International Supplement. Then, in conjunction with evaluation for NOP certification, OTCO inspectors will report on additional EU requirements. Upon successful evaluation, OTCO will issue a Declaration of Compliance for crops and products that meet the EU standards. This document will support sale of organic products as EU-compliant and expedite the issuance of Certificates of Inspection currently required for all shipments of organic products to the EU.
Downloads:
- ACB EU Equivalency Standard
- OTCO Procedures Manual
- International Supplement (Crop/Livestock) (Handling)
- EU Import/Export Regulation
Additional Information:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Contact Jim Pierce, Oregon Tilth Global Certification Manager
