Transaction Certificates

What are Transaction Certificates?

OTCO understands the importance of trade to your business. We work to create  opportunities for  trade both domestically and internationally. OTCO offers many services to help you get official transaction certificates.

Transaction Certificates are documents that confirm the organic certification of a product in trade. They may be needed for export, import, or voluntarily, depending on the country. Examples of transaction certificates include Certificates of Inspections (COIs), TM-11, GB-COI, or NOP Import Certificates. These documents help border authorities track organic products between countries.

If your business trades organic products, a Transaction Certificate is an important record that helps  protect the organic integrity of your products. 

Products requested for export must be reviewed and approved by your Client Service team prior to requesting a Transaction Certificate. OTCO’s Guide to International Trade provides an overview of each trade arrangement. If you’re trading with other countries, contact OTCO to learn about the certification requirements for the destination country. Please contact export@tilth.org for any questions regarding transaction certificates. 

How much do Transaction Certificates cost?

Standard Single-Shipment Requests: $75 USD 

Multi-Shipment NOP Requests: $90 USD

Complex Transaction Certificates – 
Complex TC requires additional supporting documents and adds administrative work.

• EU COIs: $90 USD 
• GOTS: 
  • GOTS TCs: $90 USD for the first hour + $25 each additional 1/2 hour of verification. 
  • GOTS Multi-Shipment TCs: $115 for the first hour + $25 each additional 1/2 hour of verification.

Expedited Requests: $150 USD, guaranteed to be completed by the end of the next business day in Pacific Standard Time (PST)

Same Day Expedited Requests: $225 USD 

• Note: GOTS Multi-shipment requests cannot utilize Expedited or Same Day Expedited processing.
• Requests MUST be submitted to export@tilth.org by 11 a.m. PST to qualify for Expedited processing.

Revision Requests: $35 USD

Same Day Expedited revisions- $225 USD

• Expedited revisions: $150 USD 
• Same Day Expedited revisions: $225 USD

Overview of Transaction Certificates by Country

OTCO Operations Located in United States 

Domestic Trade within the United States

In the U.S., transaction certificates are optional for domestic trade.

However, businesses certified under the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) must use transaction certificates for all trade within the GOTS supply chain.

Exporting from the United States 

For products leaving the U.S., businesses certified under NOP and GOTS must have a Transaction Certificate due to trade agreements with other countries. For other countries, these certificates are optional and available upon request.

Select a country below to download more information:

OTCO Operations Located in Mexico

For our operators in Mexico, transaction certificates are optional for trade within the country, but most international trade requires them.

Mexico is gaining more trade agreements, and we are recognized for meeting ISO/IEC 17065 standards and following Mexico’s Organic Products Law (MX LPO) and European Union regulations.

For trade within Mexico, operators can choose to use OTCO transaction certificates.

Official TC Request Template

Official TC Request Instructions

Exporting from Mexico

For products going from Mexico to the U.S., NOP import certificates are required. 

For products going from Mexico to Canada, the trade agreement requires a transaction certificate. For products going from Mexico to  the European Union, Switzerland, Sweden or the  United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, a transaction certificate is required.

Select a country below to download more information:

Importing to the United States 

Organic products entering the United States from other countries must have an NOP Import Certificate to enter the US. Products that enter the US without a valid import certificate will be rejected at the border and cannot be sold, labeled, or represented as USDA NOP organic.