Organic Registration
Every person engaged in the state of California in the production or handling of raw agricultural products sold as organic, as defined by the NOP, of products sold as organic, shall register with the State Organic Program. If the expected organic gross sales exceed $5,000, certification is required.
New and Amended Organic Registrations
New and Amended applications for organic registration must be completed and submitted to the County Commissioner of the Principal County of operation prior to the first sale of the product. Amended applications are also required for any organic land additions to the operation.
Producers/Handlers/Processors should register their organic operations at least 14-21 days prior to the sale of their first organic product.
Renewing Organic Registration
Each organic registrant must annually renew the registration unless no longer engaged in the activities requiring the registration. The State Organic Program will issue a renewal application 30 days prior to the expiration of the registration.
Organic Registration Guide
Every person engaged in this state in the production or handling of raw agricultural products sold as organic must register with CDFA. Processors and handlers of processed meat, fowl, dairy products, and retailers engaged in processing or handling of products sold as organic register with CDFA. Processors and handlers of processed products for human consumption, including dietary supplements, alcoholic beverages, fish or seafood, and processors or handlers of animal (non-livestock) food, and cosmetics sold as organic, register with CDPH.
CDFA Regulated Commodities
- All fresh fruits, vegetables, in shell nuts
- Seeds for planting
- Planting stock
- Plants, annuals, perennials
- Dried herbs
- Eggs
- Livestock (excluding aquaculture)
- Animals for slaughter
- Slaughtered and butchered animals
- Cut meat, frozen meat, processed or seasoned, and packaged on site
- Dairy products which contain no flavor, texture, or color additives or modifiers
- Livestock feed, hay, grain, pasture
- Livestock bedding
- Textile fibers, cotton, and flax
CDPH Regulated Commodities
- Processed and/or Frozen
- Coffee, Tea
- Juices, pulps, pastes, jams and jellies
- Beverages, alcohol, liquor
- Canned and frozen foods
- Vegetable based dairy substitutes
- Blended food products
- Egg products
- Prepackaged meats
- Milk, cream, chees products which were flavored or contain nondairy products
- Butter, curd, and whey products
- Extracts, flavorings
- Candy, chewing gum, syrups
- Dry grains, beans, and grain products for human consumption
- Pasta, bread
- Milled grains and seeds
- Processed sweeteners
- Spices and seasonings
- Oil seeds, oils and lubricants
- Vitamins, food supplements
- Pet food and/or blended, and byproduct thereof
- Cosmetics
Becoming Organic Certified
In accordance with the California Organic Food and Farming Act of 2016 and the National Organic Program if your annual gross sales are more than $5,000.00 you are required by law to be certified.
Attached is a list of accredited certification agencies in the state of California.
