Organic Inspection Overview

Organic Inspection Overview

Curious about what an organic inspection is like? Watch this video to learn more!

Agricultural landscape with large fields, some with rows of crops and others freshly plowed, under a partly cloudy sky with soft sunlight.

On-Site Inspections

As part of the certification process, PCO begins with an initial on-site inspection of your operation. After certification, inspections take place annually.

These visits help ensure your Organic System Plan (OSP) is accurate, complete, and reflects what’s happening in your day-to-day operation.

Inspections are scheduled at a time when:

  • A knowledgeable representative from your operation is available

  • Your land, facilities, and activities can be observed

This allows the inspector to get a clear picture of how your operation meets (or is working toward meeting) the requirements of 7 CFR Part 205, Subpart C.

Please note: Unannounced inspections may occur and are not subject to the same scheduling considerations.

A man watering plants inside a greenhouse with a hose.

Unannounced Inspections

The National Organic Program requires PCO to perform unannounced inspections on an annual basis on a minimum of five percent of the operations it certifies. The operations selected for unannounced inspections each year will be distributed across all scopes and will be weighted based on the percentage of operations that PCO certifies to that scope.

PCO may conduct an unannounced inspection of an operation in the following situations, which include but are not limited to:

✓ to investigate a complaint

✓ to investigate an identified risk to organic integrity (may include previous non-compliance issues, organic and non-organic handling, risk of contamination from adjoining land use, or complexity of an operation)

✓ random selection

✓ when directed to do so by the Administrator

✓ any other situation deemed necessary to determine compliance

Unannounced inspection may be limited in scope, depth, and breadth, and may cover only certain aspects of the operation, such as specific fields, facilities, or products.

Residue Testing

The National Organic Program requires that PCO conduct periodic residue testing of agricultural products on an annual basis from a minimum of five percent of the operations it certifies. PCO may require pre-harvest or post-harvest sampling to test for the presence of prohibited substances or use of excluded methods, including but not limited to contamination by heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, hydrocarbons, genetically modified organisms, hormones, and antibiotics. Samples may include the collection and testing of soil, water, waste, seeds, plant tissue, and processed product samples. Costs directly associated with sample collection and testing shall be covered by PCO.

PCO may conduct sample collection and residue testing on an operation in the following situations, which include but are not limited to:

  • Random selection

  • When directed to do so by the Administrator

  • When it is suspected that a prohibited substance has been applied or has been produced using excluded methods

  • To investigate a complaint, the practices of a certified operation or an applicant for certification

  • To investigate an identified risk to organic integrity

  • Any other situation deemed necessary to determine compliance

The certification program director will determine if and when residue testing is required, and arrangements will be made for a qualified inspector to obtain a sample of materials in question and forward it to a qualified laboratory. Chemical analysis must be made in accordance with the methods described in the most current edition of the Official Methods of Analysis of the AOAC International or other current applicable validated methodology, determining the presence of contaminants in agricultural products.

Results of all analyses and tests performed under this section:

  • Must be promptly provided to the Administrator; except that, where a state organic program exists, all test results and analyses shall be provided to the state organic program’s governing state official by the applicable certifying party that requested testing; and

  • Will be available for public access, unless the testing is part of an ongoing compliance investigation; and

  • Will be provided to the certified operation.

If the test results indicate a specific agricultural product contains pesticide residues or environmental contaminants that exceed the Food and Drug Administration’s or the Environmental Protection Agency’s regulatory tolerances, PCO must promptly report such data to the Federal health agency whose regulatory tolerance or action level has been exceeded.

Interested in performing organic inspections?

Learn more about becoming an organic inspector for PCO by hitting the button below!

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