Fees & Costs
Certification Fees & Costs
We believe that transparency is an important part of the certification process. This page provides information about PCO's certification fees, including annual certification costs, application fees, and other services that may apply to your operation.
PCO Certified Organic Fees
PCO has four types of fees you can expect each year, and we aim to keep the process as clear and straightforward as possible.
You’ll receive one combined invoice for the Basic Fee, Type of Operation Fee, and Sales Assessment Fee (if they apply to you), typically sent in early February after your Annual Update is submitted. Your inspection costs will be billed separately, so everything is easy to track.
The Basic Fee
1
This fee covers your basic certification services for the upcoming certification season, including review of your certification documents for compliance with the regulations.
It includes the PCO certification manual, material list, newsletter, and educational events & materials at no additional charge.
You also have direct access to the expertise of certification specialists via phone, mail, or email.
Type of Operation
2
Other Fees
Additional fees will be assessed for the type of operation (e.g., Livestock, Processor/Handler) if requesting certification in other scopes. These fees cover the additional time, paperwork, complexity, inspector assignment, and reviewer expertise required to certify operations that are more complex than those within the crop’s scope of certification.
Sales Assessment
3
The sales assessment fee is calculated on your annual gross organic sales for farming, handling and processing operations in the previous year. You will receive an invoice for these fees after we receive your application or annual update.
Inspection
4
The inspection fee includes the inspector’s time spent in preparation for, execution of, and final production of the inspection report. In addition, travel expenses, including time, transportation costs, lodging, meals, etc., will be assessed. PCO works hard to coordinate inspections in geographic regions to minimize travel time. You can lower your costs by having records and materials close at hand and well-organized when the inspector arrives.
Other fees may include an application fee (includes processing of application, Certification, and National Organic Program (NOP) manuals, Material Lists, and guidance documents), expedited services, and additional fees related to circumstances beyond the regular certification process.
PCO Certified Organic Fee Schedule
Terms & Conditions
✓A late submission of the Annual Update after the deadline will result in a late fee.
✓If the certification hasn’t been surrendered before invoicing, the renewal fee will apply.
✓All fees are non-refundable once they’ve been billed.