Transaction Certificates

What does OTCO offer to facilitate trade?

OTCO recognizes the importance of trade to your business. We work to align ourselves with opportunities to have access to trade both domestically and internationally. OTCO has a multitude of services we offer to meet requirements for official transaction certificates.

OTCO strives to meet the needs of trade regardless of where your operation is located. The programs we offer are recognized by various countries with determinations of equivalences that facilitate trade and/or in combination with recognition with our accreditations with compliance to ISO/IEC 17065 for operating organic certification to various globally recognized organic regulations.

If your business is involved with trade organic products, a Transaction Certificate is a crucial part of your record-keeping requirements used to protect the organic integrity of trade. 

When trading with other countries, we recommend contacting OTCO to inquire about the different certification requirements for the destination country and a list of must-have transaction certificate request forms. Please contact export@tilth.org for additional support.

What are Transaction Certificates?

Transaction Certificates are documents used during trade to verify the organic certification of an organic product. Transaction Certificates can be for export or import, voluntary or required, domestic or international. Depending on the countries involved and the requirements for transaction certificates, these requests are also referred to as a Certification of Inspection (COIs), TM-11, GB-COI, NOP Import Certificate, etc. 

The transaction certificate is a key record used by port and border control authorities to validate movement of organic product from one country to another.

Overview of Transaction Certificates by Country

Domestic Trade within the United States

Domestic Trade within the United States is voluntary and does not require Transaction Certificates.

Domestic Entities certified to the private Global Organic TextileStandard (GOTS)  are required to use Transaction Certificates to accompany all trade within the GOTS Supply Chain.

Visit the OTCO Global Organic Textile Standard page for information on GOTS Transaction Certificates.

Exporting from the United States 

For product leaving the United States, operators certified to the OTCO NOP  and GOTS programs are required to have a transaction certificate per the multiple trade agreements and arrangements the USDA NOP has with other countries. For all other countries, transaction certificates are voluntary and available upon request from OTCO.

Choose the country designated transaction certificates below to download information:

For our operators located in Mexico. Domestic trade within Mexico is voluntary and most international trade requires transaction certificates with other countries. 

Mexico is beginning to have more trade agreements accessible to operators in Mexico, and along with OTCO’s recognition for complying with ISO/IEC 17065 for operating in accordance with the Mexico Ley de Productores Organicos (MX LPO) and the European Union regulations.

For domestic trade in Mexico; operators have the option to use OTCO transaction certificates.

Official TC Request Template

Official TC Request Instructions

Exporting from Mexico

For products leaving Mexico and destined to the United States, operators are certified to the OTCO NOP and transaction certificates are voluntary. Starting March 19, 2024 trade with the United States will require a transaction certificate.

For products leaving Mexico destined to Canada, trade is recognized by an agreement between the countries of Mexico and Canada that requires a transaction certificate to accompany trade between these two countries, starting on May 15, 2023.

For products leaving Mexico destined for the European Union, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is by OTCO’s ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation with the CAEQ that is recognized by SENASICA of Mexico and the European Commission of the European Union. The recognition by the European Commission facilitates trade opportunities with Switzerland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 

Choose the country designated transaction certificates below to download information:

Importing to the United States 

Currently, organic products entering the United States from the countries: European Union and Japan, are required by the United States to accompany trade with the NOP Import Certificate.

Per the new Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) regulation, which came into effect March 20, 2023, and will be implemented by March 19, 2024, all organic products regardless of trade agreements and arrangements must enter the United States accompanied by a NOP Import Certificate.