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To export organic agricultural products to the United States, African farmers and agribusinesses must obtain USDA National Organic Program (NOP) certification. Products cannot be legally sold, labeled, or represented as “organic” in the US without meeting these strict federal standards.
Below is the step-by-step process for African farmers and cooperatives to achieve this certification:
1. The 36-Month Transition Period
it is very important to take note that before a farm can be certified, the land must undergo a strict 3-year (36-month) transition phase. During this time, the land must be completely free of prohibited substances, including synthetic fertilizers, synthetic pesticides, sewage sludge, and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). If a farmer can provide documented historical proof that the land has been free of these substances for the past three years, this period may be expedited.
2. Choose a USDA-Accredited Certifying Agent
Farmers are not allowed to apply directly to the US government; instead, they work with third-party certifying agencies accredited by the USDA. Several international certifiers operate heavily across Africa that will gladly be of assistance. For more on this and to be pointed in the right direction please reach out to info@iatafrica.com.
Tip for Smallholders: Because individual certification can be expensive, many African smallholder farmers are better placed at joining or forming cooperatives. These cooperatives can then set up an Internal Control System (ICS), allowing hundreds or thousands of farmers to be audited and certified collectively under a single group certificate, vastly reducing individual costs.
3. Develop an Organic System Plan (OSP)
The OSP is the foundational document of the certification process. Farmer are required to submit it to their chosen certifying agent. The OSP must detail the following:
. Farm History & Maps: Detailed maps of the plots and a history of all substances applied to the land
- Input Management: Proof that all seeds, seedlings, and soil amendments are organically compliant.
- Pest & Weed Control: The physical, mechanical, or biological methods used to manage pests and weeds without synthetic chemicals.
- Traceability & Segregation: A clear protocol showing how organic products will be kept separate from non-organic products during harvest, storage, and processing to prevent contamination.
4. Application, On-Site Audit, and Inspection
Once the certifier reviews and approves the OSP, they will schedule an on-site physical inspection.
- An inspector will tour the farm, examine soil health, verify boundaries, and ensure that the practices outlined in the OSP are actively being followed.
- The inspector will also conduct a thorough review of farm records, transaction logs, and input receipts.
- If non-conformities are found, the farmer or cooperative must implement corrective actions before certification can proceed.
5. Issuance of the USDA Organic Certificate
If the operation passes the audit, the certifying agent issues the organic certificate. The farm or business can then legally market its crops as organic and use the USDA Organic seal (depending on the exact percentage of organic ingredients if it is a processed product). Certification must be renewed and audited annually.
6. Secure a NOP Import Certificate for Shipping
Certification is just the first step for export. Under recent US Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) regulations, every specific shipment of organic goods entering the United States must be accompanied by an NOP Import Certificate.
The African exporter must request this electronic certificate from their certifying agent before the product leaves the country of origin.
- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses this document to verify the shipment’s organic integrity upon arrival. Shipments without this certificate will be rejected or forced to be sold as conventional, non-organic products.
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