Washington, DC 20250-0268 In the document’s effective date. �u,��1�b�$�0�2�g&4�>��.��4e�f�M����l�H3�#@� 4�7� When a Guidance, Instruction or Policy Memo document is no longer needed or applicable for the conduct of day-to-day activities, the document is archived. It is important to note that the National Organic Program (NOP) Handbook is non-binding and any citation issued needs to reference the USDA organic regulations. NOP Handbook – Provides guidance and instructions that can assist in complying with the USDA organic regulations. 0000001307 00000 n 0000003318 00000 n The handbook sections can also be printed by the user. Updates to all documents will be reflected in the following ways: Next to the document name in the Table of Contents (e.g. (Stop 0268)1400 Independence Ave SW Washington, DC 20250-0268, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications, Pilot Project: Unprocessed Fruits & Vegetables, Purchase Programs: Solicitations & Awards, Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM), Guidance & Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents & Certified Operations. h���1 0ð4�\w�A&`�'MF[����!��! trailer Contents. The .gov means it’s official. Standards Document Date Processed Animal Manure in Organic Crop Production NOP 5006 7/22/2011 The public will be notified when new draft guidance is available for public comment through a notice in the Federal Register. The third part is comprised of NOP Policy Memos. Farmers, Ranchers & … The following is intended only to provide clarity to the public regarding existing requirements under the law or agency policies. Before sharing sensitive information online, make sure you’re on a .gov or .mil site by inspecting your browser’s address (or “location”) bar. The .gov means it’s official. The documents contained in the Program Handbook provide a uniform method for operations to comply that can reduce the burden of developing their own methods and simplify audits and inspections. 0000002297 00000 n A policy memo is a document that provides formal communication to public audiences on NOP policy regarding a specific regulatory requirement. %%EOF National Organic Program Handbook : Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents and Certified Operations . 1887 26 The https:// means all transmitted data is encrypted — in other words, any information or browsing history that you provide is transmitted securely. The goal of the Handbook is to provide those who own, manage, or certify organic operations with guidance and instructions that can assist them in complying with the USDA organic regulations. 202-720-3252, Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA), Institutional Meat Purchase Specifications, Pilot Project: Unprocessed Fruits & Vegetables, Purchase Programs: Solicitations & Awards, Web-Based Supply Chain Management (WBSCM), NOP Organizational Chart and Stakeholder Map (pdf), Guidance & Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents & Certified Operations, Issue, reconsider, modify, or rescind a guidance document in this Handbook, Complain that we are not following the OMB Good Guidance Practices or are improperly treating a guidance document as a binding requirement. The most recent edition of the Program Handbook is available for viewing and downloading through the NOP web site (www.ams.usda.gov/nop). Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. There are three parts to the Program Handbook. Effective immediately, NOP will point to these Regulations and the Handbook as the definitive source of available information. �� � %PDF-1.4 %���� Updates to the Program Handbook that occur between editions will be handled as follows: Members of the public who wish to request that the agency issue, reconsider, modify, or rescind a guidance document, or to complain that the agency is not following the procedures in OMB's bulletin on Good Guidance Practices or is improperly treating a guidance document as a binding requirement, may do so by sending an email to NOP.Guidance@ams.usda.gov. 537, published in 1978. 0000001459 00000 n <<8A59D4F2356537418E19925D3E1B773A>]/Prev 209654/XRefStm 1091>> Access Organic Insider Archives | View Notice to Trade Archives, USDA National Organic Program: Standards Division Archived documents are available on request. The NOP is issuing this Program Handbook under the auspices of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Bulletin on Agency Good Guidance Practices (GGPs) published January 25, 2007 (72 FR 3432-3440). An official website of the United States government. CCOF certifies to the NOP as our primary standard. h�b```f``����� �� Ȁ �,@Q� �;g�w�v~pе``8s���:����M�l)��Ry�� ���A�f#�b��&�@�%F_>�5� The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites always use a .gov or .mil domain. startxref The NOP recognizes that, in the past, informal communication sent by the program may have been interpreted as official NOP positions, policy or guidance. 0 Processed Animal Manure in Organic Crop Production (Updated 10.28.10)). These are republished “as is” in the first part of this Handbook. Title Document Date Introduction 3/9/2011 NOP Organization Chart and Stakeholder Map NOP 1001 5 /28 /20 20 . 0000005554 00000 n Rather, the. The term "guidance, instruction, and policy memo documents" collectively refers to documents prepared by the NOP, for certifying agents, certified organic operations, and the public that: Guidance, Instruction, and Policy Memo Documents do not include documents relating to program reports, general information documents provided to consumers, speeches, journal articles and editorials, media interviews, press materials, letters addressing enforcement or compliance actions, or other communications directed to individual persons or firms. At all times, the most up-to-date Table of Contents, Summary of Changes, and individual documents comprising the Program Handbook will be available for download on the NOP Program Handbook web page.