Organic Inspection
The annual on-site visit by a USDA-accredited certifier that verifies an operation is following its Organic System Plan and the NOP standards.
An organic inspection is the on-site visit a USDA-accredited certifying agent conducts at every certified operation at least once per year. The inspection verifies that what's actually happening on the operation matches what's in the Organic System Plan, and that the operation is following the National Organic Program standards.
What the regulation requires
NOP §205.403 requires the certifier to conduct an on-site inspection that includes:
- A physical inspection of the production or handling areas
- A review of records to verify that the operation is implementing its OSP
- An audit of the operation's recordkeeping system
- An exit interview with the operator covering observations and any potential noncompliances
Additional unannounced inspections can also occur, particularly when a complaint or concern triggers them.
How to prepare
Inspections are scheduled, typically a few weeks ahead. Preparation usually involves:
- Pulling together the OSP and any updates since the last inspection
- Organizing input application records, harvest records, sales records, equipment cleaning logs
- Walking the boundaries to verify buffer zones, signage, and physical barriers
- Reviewing seed sources, supplier affidavits, and OMRI documentation for inputs
- Briefing anyone on staff who'll be present
The inspector samples records — they don't read every page. But they can ask for any document, and the OSP says you'll have it. Missing records during an inspection is a common noncompliance even when the underlying practice was correct.
After the inspection
The inspector writes a report and submits it to the certifier for review. The certifier then:
- Issues the certification (or renewal)
- Issues a certification with conditions (minor noncompliances to fix)
- Issues a notice of noncompliance (more serious — has to be resolved before continued certification)
- Denies or suspends certification (rare and serious)
Operations have rights to respond, request a different inspector, or appeal — see NOP §205.681.
Cited regulations
Linked to the current eCFR text of 7 CFR Part 205. Reviewed before publication.
QO Editorial Team
Quick Organics
Quick Organics' editorial team writes about USDA organic certification, the Organic System Plan, and the daily realities of running a certified organic operation. Material is reviewed against the current eCFR text of 7 CFR Part 205 before publication.