The USDA NOP has recently revised their webpage to provide further clarification on the documentation requirements for imports from India including Indian COR-certified products.
All COR certified organic products exported to the U.S. must be accompanied by an organic certificate issued by a COR-accredited CB recognized under the terms of the U.S.-Canada equivalence arrangement. The organic certificate issued by the CFIA accredited CB must include the following attestation statement:
“Certified in accordance with the terms of the U.S.-Canada Organic Equivalency Arrangement.”
For all COR-certified organic products produced and/or handled in India that are exported to the U.S directly or via Canada:
- COR CBs and operations are responsible for verifying the organic integrity of all shipments coming into the U.S. under the equivalency arrangement. TraceNet certificates are a Government of India requirement (pdf) for products to be exported as organic, and are an important tool in this verification.
- COR CBs and operations are to require and maintain any other documentation necessary to demonstrate compliance of the full supply chain, which may include COR and USDA organic certificates, and other supply chain documentation (e.g., load quantities, lot numbers, production sources, other supply chain records, traceability documents), and the required TraceNet certificates.
- The NOP Import Certificate, currently required for all certified USDA organic products imported to the U.S. from India, is also an important tool that can help assess compliance. The NOP Import Certificate will become mandatory for all imports including those from Canada to the U.S with the implementation of the now-published Strengthening Organic Enforcement final rule when it comes into effect in 2024.
To view the full page please use the following link:
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/organiccertification/international-trade/Canada