OCal Cannabis Certification Program
1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814 • OCalCannabis@cdfa.ca.gov
- Get certified as a cultivator or distributor
- Regulations and guidance
- Complaints
- Certifying agent information
- Contact us
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) OCal Program is currently accepting applications for registration and accreditation of certifying agents.
OCal is a statewide certification program that establishes and enforces comparable-to-organic cannabis standards. The OCal Program will ensure that cannabis products bearing the OCal seal have been certified to consistent, uniform standards comparable to the National Organic Program.
The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) approved the OCal regulations, 2021-0714-01, to establish a program that is comparable to the National Organic Program and the California Organic Food and Farming Act.
Why is it called “comparable-to-organic” cannabis?
The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) was required by law to establish a certification program for cannabis that is comparable to the National Organic Program and the California Organic Food and Farming Act. However, only the National Organic Program can authorize use of the word “organic” on product packaging.
The term “organic” is a designation reserved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture for eligible products that comply with the standards of the National Organic Program. Since cannabis is illegal under federal law, cannabis products are not eligible to carry the “organic” designation.
When the term “OCal” is used in reference to a cannabis product, it means that product consists of cannabis produced in a way that’s comparable to organic?
Yes! If cannabis is produced in a way that’s comparable to organic, then those growing practices may be eligible for recognition through OCal certification if OCal requirements specified in the OCal regulations are met.
Can any commercial cannabis licensee who produces cannabis that’s comparable to organic label and refer to their products as OCal?
Commercial cannabis cultivators and distributors who are authorized, through certification by a registered CDFA certifying agent, may sell, label, or represent their commercial cannabis products as “OCal.”
Licensed cannabis manufacturers will be certified under the California Department of Public Health.
How do I verify that a business is certified to produce OCal products?
List of Certified OCal Operations
Get certified as a cultivator or distributor
OCal certification can only be granted by a registered OCal certifying agent. Download the document below and contact one of the listed registered certifying agents for certification information.
List of Registered OCal Certifiers
The following National Organic Program (NOP) resources may also be helpful.
- Organic Certification Made Simple (video series)
- “The Road to Organic Certification” (video)
- What Is Organic Certification?
Tip Sheets
References and Resources
- National Center for Appropriate Technology’s National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (also known as ATTRA): Organic Farming
- National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances
Regulations
- OCal Program – Final Regulation Text
- OCal Program – Final Guidance Documents
- Food and Drug Administration regulation 21 CFR section 179.26 (version April 1, 2020)
Proposed OCal Regulatory Materials
-
Initial Notice Documents
- Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
- Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Frequently Asked Questions/Comments
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Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
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ISOR Documents Relied Upon:
- Minutes of July 24, 2019, Working Group
- National Organic Program Regulations, Code of Federal Regulations, Title 7–Agriculture
- "Soil Organic Matter and Available Water Capacity," Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
- "Increasing Cropping System Diversity Balance Productivity, Profitability, and Environmental Health," PLOS ONE
- National Organic Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents and Certified Operations
- Key National Organic Program (NOP) documents
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ISOR Documents Relied Upon:
- First 15-day Comment Period Documents
- Notice of Modifications to the Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Addendum to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) (explanation of changes to the Text of the Proposed Regulations)
- Supplement to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
- Modified Text of the Proposed Regulations
- Modified OCal Guidance Documents 2611, 3012, and 5021
- Second 15-Day Comment Period Documents
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Third 15-Day Comment Period Documents
- Notice of Modifications to the Text of Proposed Regulations
- Addendum III to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR) (explanation of changes to the Text of the Proposed Regulations)
- Supplement II to the Initial Statement of Reasons (ISOR)
- Modified Text of the Proposed Regulations
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Documents Incorporated by Reference:
- Food and Drug Administration regulation 21 CFR section 179.26 (version April 1, 2020)
- Modified OCal Guidance Documents:
- OCal 1000 Methods and Materials in OCal Production
- OCal 2006 Separation of Duties in Certification Decisions
- OCal 2602 Recordkeeping for Certified Operations
- OCal 2608 Responding to Noncompliance’s
- OCal 2609 Unannounced Inspections
- OCal 2610 Sampling Procedures for OCal Cannabis Residue Testing
- OCal 2611 Laboratory Selection Criteria for Prohibited Substance Testing
- OCal 2611-1 Prohibited Pesticides for OCal Residue Testing
- OCal 2613 Responding to Results of Pesticide Residue Testing
- OCal 2614 Technical Assistance Instruction
- OCal 2615 OSPs, OSP Updates, and Notification of Changes
- OCal 3012 Material Review
- OCal 5006 Processed Animal Manures in OCal Production
- OCal 5008 Reassessed Inert Ingredients
- OCal 5020 Natural Resources and Biodiversity Conservation
- OCal 5021 Compost and Vermicompost in OCal Production
- OCal 5023 Substances Used in Post-Harvest Handling of OCal Products
- OCal 5025 Commingling & Contamination
- OCal 5026 The Use of Chlorine Materials in OCal Production
- OCal 5029 Seeds and Planting Stock in OCal Cultivation
- OCal 5033 Classification of Unique Materials
- OCal 5033-1 Decision Tree for Classification Materials
- OCal 5034 Materials for OCal Cannabis Production
- OCal 5034-1 List of Materials for Use in OCal Cannabis Production
- OCal 5034-2 List of Materials Prohibited for Use in OCal Cannabis Productions
- OCal 5036 Treated Lumber
Guidance Documents
OCal guidance documents clarify specific sections of the regulations.
Complaints
Contact us at OCalCannabis@cdfa.ca.gov.
Contact us
California Department of Food and Agriculture
Inspection Services Division
OCal Cannabis Certification Program
1220 N Street, Sacramento, CA 95814
OCalCannabis@cdfa.ca.gov