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International services

Our know-how and credibility in organic certification are valued and known beyond the U.S., reaching into Mexico and other countries.OTCO provides technical assistance and services to help certified organic clients access export opportunities for raw and processed organic products to international markets. Additionally, you may be eligible to be certified to international organic program standards. We offer an integrated approach to deliver your operation clear and practical support in navigating individual country requirements.The OTCO Guide to International Trade provides an overview of the international equivalency arrangements, agreements and trade relationships in place with the USDA NOP and other recognized bodies. Please use the OTCO Guide to International Trade along with the International Forms and International Labeling pages to facilitate trade.

Canada

The U.S.–Canada equivalency arrangement allows Canada to import USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certified products without requiring additional certifications, although some restrictions apply. Countries with similar equivalency arrangements are eligible to export organic products to Canada.Learn more about Canada imports and exports

European Union

We offer international services to evaluate USDA NOP certified crop and handling operations to the European Union (EU) organic standard. Certification to the EU standard is required when organic production and product shipment occurs from countries where no equivalency or trade arrangement exists with the EU.OTCO provides certification to several standards that allow for export of products to the EU.Equivalency arrangements between the EU, U.S., and Canada require only certain operations to apply for EU certification. For OTCO-certified operators based in the U.S. or Canada, equivalency arrangements enable you to sell products to a processor, handler, or distributor exporting to the EU.

To avoid any inconvenience or delay with organic products exported to the EU, please seriously consider the following: OTCO is unable to authorize any COI requests once a consignment has left the country of origin, even if the COI requests were submitted to OTCO before the product left. Any organic products that arrive in the EU without an authorized COI are subject to rejection. For more information, refer to EU Regulation 2021/2306  or reach out to us at export@tilth.org

Learn more about EU services

Mexico

OTCO offers services to evaluate crop and handling operations that comply with Mexico Organic Products Law (LPO).For operations located in the United States and exporting products to Mexico, the Mexico Organic Products Law (LPO) requires that any products produced and/or sold into Mexico as organic requires the final operation responsible for the export in the supply chain to be certified with the LPO. For example, if you are a farmer exporting directly to Mexico or a processing facility exporting to Mexico, you will need to get certified to the LPO. To inquire about LPO Recertification, refer to our Fee Schedule, and/or reach out to getcertified@tilth.org 

After January 1, 2022, any product exported to Mexico from the United States must be by a certified operation to the Mexico Organic Product Law and be accompanied by an OTCO Transaction Certificate. 

For operations located in Mexico and importing products to the United States, the USDA NOP regulation requires that any products produced and/or sold into the United States require operators to be certified with the National Organic Program (NOP). Beginning March 19, 2024, in addition to being certified organic to the NOP, the product must be accompanied by an OTCO Transaction Certificate. For more information visit esp.tilth.org.

Japan and Taiwan

For products produced or processed in the U.S., the USDA NOP has a bilateral equivalency arrangement with Japan and a unilateral trade arrangement with Taiwan. While some restrictions may apply, we offer services for the export of USDA-certified organic products to Japan and Taiwan.Learn more about Japan and Taiwan services

Korea

OTCO offers services for the export of processed products with greater than 95 percent organic content to Korea. The USDA NOP and Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) signed a bilateral equivalency arrangement to eliminate trade barriers and reduce the paperwork for operations wishing to export qualified organic products to Korea.Learn more about Korea services

Imports and Exports

OTCO offers services for the import and export of organic products to countries that do not have a specific form or equivalency agreement — as Canada, the European Union, Mexico, Japan, Korea, and Taiwan do — in the form of trade documents, import certificates and transaction certificates.Learn more about import and export services