Requirements for Certified Organic Food
Requirements for Certified Organic Food
What are some requirements for certified organic food? The demand for organic food has risen and it’s caught the attention of the government. The government has stepped in to make sure everything goes according to plan by issuing certain criteria. Certified organic food involve more than not using pesticide and chemical fertilizer. Every part of the process has to meet stringent criteria to earn the certification, starting from when the seeds start growing to how they’re handled, even until the time they reach the consumers.
Before a product can be called a certified organic food, any business directly involved in the food’s production process has to be certified. This includes the seed providers, farmers, the companies that process the food, even the food retailers and restaurants. Unfortunately, current requirements for certified organic food differ by country; what may qualify in one country won’t necessarily in another.
Basically, there can be no influence of synthetic products anywhere along the production chain. Whether it be the use of chemicals, pesticides, food additives, or even the use of sewer sludge (as fertilizer) it will quickly exempt a company from earning a certified organic food provider label.
Participants Must Prove Themselves
Companies that are involved in the supply chain hoping to remain certified organic food providers must maintain meticulous records of the products’ production and sales. In addition, records must be kept for any equipment that is used in their manufacturing process. They’re also required to maintain a solid border between organic growing areas and those that are not going to used for certified organic food.
Furthermore, there can be nothing used in the fields for organic products that would violate any step of the certified organic food process. The fields usually must be used without chemical additives for a certain number of years. The number is usually around three but it varies by country. The land and the production facility are subject to periodic inspection to maintain the status of a certified organic food producer.
Due to these high standards, certified organic food providers must take that extra mile to ensure quality products. Although it may seem cumbersome, the certification process ensures the health promised by organic foods.
