Organic Food Program

For more information, e-mail us or call (360) 902-1805. 

WSDA Organic Food Program Fact Sheets Complaints National Organic Program International Program  Export Certificate Organic Quarterly Retailer Information To view PDF files, download  Acrobat Reader

WSDA Organic Food Program

The WSDA Organic Food Program protects consumers and supports the organic food industry by ensuring the integrity of organic food products through establishing organic standards and certifying organic producers, processors, and handlers.

The WSDA Organic Food Program has put together reference material to assist applicants with the organic certification process.  The WSDA Rules and Regulations Book contains the USDA National Organic Standards, WSDA Organic Standards and Regulations, and WSDA Organic Certification Fee Information.  The WSDA Guide to Organic Certification provides answers to frequently asked questions about certification, and provides details and references about organic production and handling requirements.

• Guide to Organic Certification(PDF 451 KB)
• WSDA Organic Rules and Regulations(PDF 441 KB)

Fact Sheet

• Seed and Planting Stock Guidelines(PDF 102 KB)

Check out the brochures we provide to the public. Contact our office if you would like a copy. 

• Organic Food Program General Information(PDF 266 KB)
• Crop Production(PDF 155 KB)
• Livestock Production (PDF 128 KB)
• Food Handling(PDF 204 KB)

Complaints

The WSDA Organic Food Program has established a complaint procedure to help ensure the complaints from applicants for certification, certified operations and the public are processed and addressed in an orderly and timely manner. Please reference the Complaint Procedure for further details.

• Complaint Procedure(PDF 55 KB)

National Organic Program Information

The National Organic Program (NOP) is a federal law that requires all organic food products to meet the same standards and be certified under the same certification process. All organic producers and handlers must be certified by accredited organic certification agencies unless exempt or excluded from certification (under $5,000 in sales, retailers)

• National Organic Program

• NOP Summary 2006(PDF 223 KB)

• Organic Requirements Simplified(PDF 65 KB)

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International Programs

As exports of organic food products from Washington State have increased, a need for a certification program specific to foreign standards has been identified. WSDA Organic Food Program has developed a program of inspecting and verifying compliance of certified producers, handlers, and processing operations to European standards, as well as Japan requirements. Certification under the International Program ensures continued market access for Washington certified crops and products.

For additional Information and Reference Materials click on the link below.

• Handlers

• Processors

• Producers (Growers)

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