Organic System Plan – Livestock
Organic System Plan
Livestock/ Dairy
Office Use Only
Received:
Use this form if you are requesting organic certification of dairy stock or livestock slaughter stock. Poultry producers must use the
Organic System Plan - Poultry. A separate Organic System Plan - Crops must be filled out if you are growing your own feed or other
organic crops for sale. Use additional sheets if necessary. If you are a new applicant, attach a completed General Information form. Do
not leave any applicable sections blank, write ”none” or “not applicable”. Remember to sign this form on the last page . Section
numbers refer to National Organic Program regulations (7 CFR, Part 205).
SECTION 1: General Information
First Name:
MI:
§205.406(a)(2) and §205.401(b)
Last Name:
Today’s Date:
Farm Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip code:
Does this operation engage in any processing of organic livestock or livestock products? (e.g. slaughtering, feed processing)
Yes
No
If yes, describe:
You may need to complete a Processor/Handler Organic System Plan. Contact PCO to confirm applicability.
Please check any of the following countries to which you intend to export organic livestock or livestock products in the next 18
months:
Canada
European Union
Taiwan
Japan
If you intend to export any of your organic products to Japan, Taiwan, European Union or Canada, complete Section 16 of this
form.
SECTION 2: Organic Livestock Operation Profile
§205.201
Table 1. Livestock Requested for Certification: Complete the following table for all livestock requested for certification
Type of Livestock
# of
animals
Projected annual production
Table 2. Transitional/Non-Organic Livestock: Complete this table for transitional or non-organic livestock on your farm:
Type of Livestock
Page 1 of 17
# of
animals
Transitional or
non-organic?
Describe how these are separated from
organic livestock or products:
Projected annual
production
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
1.
If not yet certified:
a) Do you plan to transition a dairy herd?
If Yes, date transition started:
Yes
No
N/A
b) Estimated milk ship date (if known):
c) Provide milk company contact name and information:
SECTION 3: Source of Animals
§205.236
All organic livestock must be from certified organic sources unless breeding stock was purchased prior to the last third of the
gestation period. Dairy herds are permitted a one-time whole herd conversion over a 12-month period - see §205.236(a)(2).
2.
Do you raise all slaughter animals on farm (including organic cull animals)?
Yes
No
Not Applicable
3.
Do you raise replacement animals on farm?
Yes
No
Not Applicable
4.
Do you purchase any livestock?
Yes
No
Table 3. Purchased Livestock: If yes, give specific information on livestock purchased within the past 12 months: Please write the
type of livestock purchased, their identification no./name, date of purchase, projected real birthing date, the purchase source and
what agency certified them.
TYPE OF LIVESTOCK
PURCHASED
IDENTIFICATION NO./
NAME
DATE OF
PURCHASE
PROJECTED OR REAL
BIRTHING DATE
PURCHASE
SOURCE
SECTION 4: Livestock Feed and Feed Supplements
CERTIFIED BY
WHAT AGENCY?
§205.237
For dairy livestock in transition, all feed must be either third year transitional material from your own farm or 100% organic. Dairy
livestock in transition must comply with the Pasture Rule requirements during the one year transition, including receiving at least
30% dry matter intake from pasture over the grazing season, minimum of 120 days. Also, you must document the amount of each
type of feed actually fed to each type and class of animal. You may use PCO’s Feed Ration/ DMI Calculation Worksheet.
5. Describe your grazing season, including dates/total number of days:
6. How will you calculate dry matter intake for each type/class of ruminant livestock?
Using the tables and worksheets provided by PCO
Using other calculation method (explain) and published reference material (list source):
7. Describe the classes or groups of animals you manage (i.e. lactating cows, bred heifers, unbred heifers, dry cows).
Include the breed and average weight for each class/group:
Feed Ration(s) Attached
Page 2 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
Table 4: Proposed Feed Ration. Provide a description of the total feed ration for each class of ruminant livestock you manage.
This should include all feed produced on-farm and purchased from off-farm sources. You may provide the information in your own
format as an attachment.
No ruminant animals
# of Days
Ration
Dry Matter
Type / Class
Ration
Period
Demand (DMD)
EXAMPLE:
Early Spring
15 Days
28 lbs.
6 lbs Org. Corn Silage, 10 lbs Org. Dry Hay, 4
Lactating Jersey
lbs Org. Baleage
Cows
Page 3 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
Table 5. Dry Matter Value of Feed: List the dry matter value for each type of feed listed in Table 4. If no values are reported, PCO
will use an average dry matter book value to evaluate your feed ration.
No ruminant animals
Type of Feed
Dry Matter Value of Feed
Example: Corn Silage
Example: 40%
Page 4 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
8. Do you process feed (mix, grind, roast, extrude, etc.) on-farm?
If Yes, is the equipment also used to process conventional products?
If Yes, how is equipment cleaned prior to processing organic feed to prevent contamination?
Yes
No
Yes
No
9. What is your plan for emergency feed supplies?
a) Grazing season emergency feed and pasture plan:
b) Non-grazing season emergency feed plan:
10. Do you provide feed supplements and additives in amounts greater than those needed for adequate nutrition (i.e.
above labeled rates of consumption)?
Yes
No
If Yes, list all feed supplements and additives, silage inoculants, preservatives, etc. on the enclosed Livestock Materials/ Medicine
Cabinet Inventory form. All feed supplements and additives must be reviewed and approved PRIOR to using.
Table 6. Feed Storage: Describe your feed storage locations in the table below:
Type of
Storage
Storage ID#
Type of feed stored
Capacity
Organic (O),
Conventional (C), Buffer (B)
SECTION 5: Water
Water used for organic livestock must be potable and readily accessible. Water tests for coliform bacteria, nitrates and/or known
contaminants may be required.
11. How do you provide clean water to your livestock?
On-site well
Municipal
River/Creek/Pond
Spring
Other (specify):
12. How do you monitor water quality?
Water testing
Visually
By taste
By smell
Other (specify):
13. Do you test your water?
Yes
No
If Yes, what was the date of the last test?
(Have results ready to show inspector)
14. Were results of this test satisfactory?
Yes
No
If No, please explain:
15. If you use additives in the water, list them and state reason for use:
No additives used
*Be sure to add all water additives to your Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
16. If livestock have access to a river, creek, or pond, how do you prevent bank erosion?
No access
Page 5 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
SECTION 6: Housing
§205.239
Livestock living conditions must provide reasonable freedom of movement, lack of crowding, proper sanitation, fresh air, sunshine,
appropriate shelter and adequate bedding. Pasture is required for ruminants.
17. What type of housing do you use?
18. Do you have an exercise yard or feeding pad for outdoor access during the non-grazing season?
If yes, describe:
Yes
No
a) Number and type of animals per area:
b) Square Footage of area:
19. Describe the space provided for each type of livestock:
Animal Type
Indoor Space (head / sq ft.)
Outdoor Pens & Runs (head / sq. ft.)
20. Describe the type of bedding used:
21. Is bedding certified organic?
Yes
No
Not Applicable
*Keep organic certificates for bedding on file for the inspector to review.
22. How often and with what is housing cleaned out?
*List sanitation or cleaning products used on Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
23. Do all ruminant animals have access to pasture, including calves over 6 months old?
If No, explain:
Yes
No
24. If you will temporarily deny livestock access to pasture during the grazing season, describe the reasons and duration:
(example: 4:30-5:30 daily, cows in for milking)
Page 6 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
25. If you will temporarily confine livestock during the non grazing season, describe reasons and duration:
(Example: temperatures unsafe (December and January))
26. How long are animals indoors (hours per day)?
Spring
Summer
Fall
Winter
27. If any wood treated with prohibited products is used, does it come into contact with livestock?
If Yes, please describe and include date of installation or replacement and location:
Yes
No
None Used
28. Do you board livestock elsewhere?
Yes
No
*If Yes, you must fill out an off Farm Boarding Supplement prior to moving livestock. Contact PCO to request the form.
SECTION 7: Health Management
§205.238
A proactive health management program is required to prevent health problems and potential use of prohibited materials. If
prohibited treatments are used, the treated animals and/or their products must not be sold as organic. Records must be kept of all
treatments, whether they are allowed or not, and whether administered by you or a veterinarian.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
29. Identify the general components of your animal health management program:
Selective breeding
Vaccinations
Raise own replacement stock
Good sanitation
Good quality feed
Isolation for purchased/diseased animals
Access to outdoors
Pasture rotation
Dry bedding
Nutritional supplements
Culling
Good ventilation in housing
Probiotics
Homeopathy
Other (specify):
30. Describe how you monitor the effectiveness of your health care management:
31. How often do you conduct health care monitoring?
Daily
Weekly
Annually
As needed
Other (specify):
Include ALL HEALTHCARE TREATMENTS on the Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form, including any
emergency treatments, prohibited treatments, parasiticides, vaccinations, etc. used by you or a veterinarian failure to do so
could jeopardize your certification.*
32. Name and phone number of your veterinarian:
33. Are any of the livestock and or their products been subject to the use of systemic pain killers or analgesics such as
Lidocaine or Procaine? (Taiwan Export)
Yes
No
If yes, please identify which animals have been treated:
B) PARASITE CONTROL:
34. Describe how you prevent or control internal and external parasites on your operation:
Not a problem
*List all materials on your Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
Page 7 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
C) FLY CONTROL:
Not a problem
35. If flies are a problem in your operation, what do you do to prevent or control them?
*List all materials on your Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
D) PREDATOR CONTROL:
36. Check which predators you have problems with:
Hawks
Feral cats
Raccoons/skunks
Dogs
Foxes
Coyotes
Not a problem
Other (specify):
37. Describe how you handle predator problems in this table:
Predator Problem
Controls Used
Products Used*
E) SURGICAL PRACTICES:
§205.238(a)(5) of the USDA regulations permits performance of physical alterations as needed to promote the animals’ welfare and
in a manner that minimizes pain and stress.
38. Describe surgical practices you use, such as dehorning, castration, tail, docking and types of livestock, age of
livestock, reasons for use and procedures used to minimize pain and stress:
Not used
*List all materials on your Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
SECTION 8: Manure & Pasture Management
§205.239 & §205.240
A. MANURE MANAGEMENT
A producer of an organic livestock operation must manage manure in a manner that does not contribute to contamination of crops,
soil or water by plant nutrients, heavy metals, or pathogenic organisms and optimizes recycling of nutrients.
39. What forms of manure do you use:
Liquid
Semi-solid/piled
Fully composted
Not used
40. If manure from your livestock is used on your fields, describe how it is used:
41. List ingredients/additives (example: bedding, barn lime, inoculants, preservatives):
42. During what months do you apply manure/compost?
43. Acres of land available for manure application:
44. Estimated quantity of manure generated per year:
tons
45. Describe how you monitor the effectiveness of your manure management:
46. How often do you conduct manure management monitoring?
Weekly
Page 8 of 17
Monthly
Annually
As needed
Other (specify):
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
B. PASTURE MANAGEMENT
A Pasture Management Plan must include the following: type of grazing methods and other management practices that ensure
sufficient quality and quantity of pasture is available for all ruminants to graze throughout the grazing season; soil fertility, seeding
systems, and erosion control of pasture; types of pasture; and a map identifying land used as pasture, the location and types of
fences, and sources of shade and water sources.
No ruminant animals, skip to Section 9
47. Do you have an existing pasture management plan developed in cooperation with a federal, state or local
conservation office?
Yes
No
If Yes, attach plan
If No, complete the following questions. Attach a separate sheet if needed.
Plan attached
a) Describe your grazing methods:
b) Describe your pasture soil fertility, seeding, and erosion control system:
c) Describe the types of pastures you manage (i.e. clover, mixed grasses, alfalfa, sorghum sudan):
d) What types of fencing do you use?
Permanent
Temporary
48. Do you sell your animals as organic slaughter stock?
If No, skip to the next section.
Yes
No
Yes
No
49. What age are the animals at the time of slaughter?
50. What is the length of your finishing period?
51. Will your animals be fed in a feedlot during finishing?
52. Describe the feed ration of the slaughter stock during the finishing period:
*Your farm map must identify all pastures, location/type of permanent fences, shade, and water sources. (Please attach on
separate sheet of paper)
SECTION 9: Milk Handling
Milk handling procedures must meet regulatory requirements for sanitation.
53. What type of milk handling system do you use:
Pipeline
Automated
Step saver
We are NOT a dairy operation
Hand milking
Parlor
Tie stalls
Stanchions
Other (specify):
54. How are you licensed?
Grade A
55. Do you have a raw milk permit?
Page 9 of 17
Grade B
Yes
Other (specify):
No
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
56. Do you:
Pasteurize
Bottle milk
If you pasteurize or bottle milk you must complete a Processor Handler Organic System Plan.
57. Describe cleaning cycle for milking equipment (water temperature, number of rinses, etc.):
58. Do you do a final water rinse?
If No, explain why not:
Yes
No
*List detergent, acid cleaner and sanitizer used, and products used to clean animals, such as teat dips and udder washes
on enclosed Livestock Materials/ Medicine Cabinet Inventory form.
59. How is wastewater from cleaning and sanitizing of milking equipment disposed of?
Municipal sewage
Manure pit/lagoon
On-farm septic
Field drain
Other (specify):
60. How many animals do you currently milk?
61. How often do you change inflations?
Not used
Report production for the last six milkings in the table below:
Date
Pounds produced
Date
Pounds produced
Date
1.
3.
5.
2.
4.
6.
Pounds produced
SECTION 10: Livestock Transportation
If livestock are transported for any reason, complete this section. If not, proceed to Section 11.
62. Are livestock transported?
If No, proceed to the next section.
If Yes, What form of transportation is used and when are livestock transported?
Yes
No
Yes
No
66. Are animals provided with food in transit?
If Yes, is feed certified organic?
Yes No
I don’t know, I am not responsible for providing feed during transit
Yes
No
67. Are animals provided with water in transit?
If Yes, are any substances added to the water?
Yes No
I don’t know, I am not responsible for providing water during transit
Yes
No
63. How are animals loaded?
64. Do you use electric prods?
65. How long does transportation take?
SECTION 11: Handling for Slaughter
§205.27 0
Meat to be sold or labeled as organic must be slaughtered at a certified organic facility. If you slaughter your livestock on farm, or
at a certified organic facility and supply the label for this meat, an Organic System Plan Processor/ Handler is required.
Contact PCO to request the form.
Page 10 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
68. Are you selling meat products as organic?
If No, proceed to the next section.
Yes
No
69. Describe who slaughters your animals (i.e. slaughter on-farm by you or off-farm at a slaughter facility):
70. If slaughtered off-farm, provide the name, address, and phone number of facility where your animals are slaughtered:
71. Is the facility certified organic?
If Yes, by what agency?
Yes
No
72. Where are animals kept after delivery to slaughter facility, but before slaughter?
73. Are organic animals housed separately from non-organic animals?
Yes
No
74. How are organic meat products stored?
75. Where are organic meat products sold?
76. Who is identified as the final handler on the label (i.e. your farm name or the certified organic slaughter facility)?
77. Who is identified as the certifier on the label (i.e. PCO)?
SECTION 12: Facility Pest Management
§205.271
Complete this section to describe pest control practices and materials used in any facility where organic livestock or
livestock products are produced, and/or stored, including but not limited to feed storage areas, inside milk house, inside
barn, or outside barn (if animals have potential access).
78. Does this operation use any facilities, such as those stated above, in the production or storage of organic livestock or
livestock products and have pest problems in those facilities?
Yes
No
If No, skip to the next section.
79. Describe the facilities and the livestock products produced or stored in those facilities:
80. What type of facility pest management system(s) do you use?
In-house: name of responsible person:
Contracted pest control service (name, phone no.):
81. Check all facility pest problems you encounter:
Flying insects
Crawling insects
Spiders
Birds
Page 11 of 17
Rats
Mice
Other(specify):
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
82.
Check all pest management practices you use. Note: All materials used for facility pest management must be listed
on your Materials Used Form.
Good sanitation
Release of beneficials
Removal of exterior habitat/food sources
Sticky traps
Cleanup of spilled product
Pheromone traps
Mowing
Mechanical traps
Physical barriers
Non-synthetic substances consistent with the National List
Monitoring devices
(e.g. pyrethrum)
Repair of holes, cracks, etc.
Synthetic substance consistent with the National List (e.g.
Screened windows, vents, etc.
vitamin D3 bait)
Inspection zones around interior perimeter
Synthetic substance NOT on the National List (e.g. most
Electrocutors
commercially available rodent bait)*
Ultrasound/light devices
Other (specify):
*If you want to use a synthetic not on the National List you must receive authorization from PCO prior to use.
83. Describe monitoring, including frequency, used to determine effectiveness of management practices above:
84. If pest control materials are used, where are they stored?
85. What records do you maintain to document pesticide use and measures taken to prevent contamination of organic
products?
*Attach facility map showing location of pest traps and monitoring devices.
Map Attached
SECTION 13: Animal Identification
§205.236
Records sufficient to preserve the identity of all organically managed animals must be kept.
86. Describe your animal identification system:
87. If animals were to be treated with prohibited or restricted materials, how would you plan to identify and/or segregate
those animals?
SECTION 14: Record Keeping
§205.236
USDA regulations require documentation of purchased animals and/or breeding records; purchased feed and feed supplements;
health records; and sales/shipping records. Have your records available for review by the inspector.
Check types of records you keep:
Feed (including amounts and type of feed actually fed to each type and class of animal and
seasonal feed rations changes)
Documentation of purchased animals
Purchased feed/feed supplements
Access to pasture
Organic certificates for purchased feed/ organic bedding
Somatic cell/plate count
Milk production
Sales
Feed storage
Breeding
Feed labels
Shipping/transportation
Health
Slaughter
Other (specify):
SECTION 15: Marketing
TYPE OF MARKETING:
Farmers market
Wholesale to processor
Page 12 of 17
§205.303
Direct to retail
Contract to buyer
CSA/subscription service
Other (specify):
On-farm retail
Wholesale
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
88. Do you use or plan to use any labels and/or marketing materials?
If No, proceed to the next section.
If yes, include a copy of the labels/marketing materials.
Yes
No
89. Do your labels identify Pennsylvania Certified Organic as the certifying agent?
Yes
No
90. Do you use or plan to use the PCO logo on the label or marketing materials?
Yes
No
91. Do you intend to use the USDA logo on the label or marketing materials?
Yes
No
SECTION 16: International Export: Canada, Taiwan, European Union, Japan
Please provide the following information even if you do not currently intend to export any organic products to Canada,
European Union, Taiwan, or Japan in order for PCO to review this information. This will expedite any export verification
needs you or your customers may have in the future. However, this information is not required for your Organic System
Plan to be considered complete.
A. CANADA
N/A
92. If exporting swine or swine products, provide the stocking densities for these animals:
Indoor Space (head / sq ft)
Outdoor Pens & Runs (head / sq ft)
93. Are you using any labels for exported products other than labels already approved by PCO?
If yes, attach labels for PCO to review.
Yes
No
*Note: The 100% Organic Label is not permitted in Canada. Labels must be bilingual (English and French).
Livestock Requested for Export to
Canada
Number of
Animals
Livestock Products Requested for Export
to Canada
Product Amount
Estimated for Export
B. EUROPEAN UNION
N/A
94. Are you using any labels for products exported to the European Union other than labels already approved by PCO?
*Note: The 100% Organic Label is not permitted in the European Union.
Yes
No
If yes, attach labels for PCO to review.
Livestock Requested for Export to
European Union
C. TAIWAN
Number of
Animals
Livestock Products Requested for
Export to European Union
Product Amount
Estimated for Export
N/A
95. If livestock products are to be exported to Taiwan, were systemic painkillers or analgesics, including lidocaine or
procaine used in the animals’ management?
Yes
No
If yes, list.
Page 13 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
Livestock Requested for Export to
Taiwan
Number of
Animals
Livestock Products Requested for
Export to Taiwan
Product Amount
Estimated for Export
D. JAPAN
N/A
96. Do you use livestock inputs that contain:
a. Alkali-extracted humic acid?
b. Lignin sulfonate (used as a flotation agent)?
Livestock Requested for
Export to Japan
Number of
Animals
Yes
Yes
Livestock Products Requested for Export
to Japan
No
No
Product Amount Estimated
for Export
SECTION 17: “PCO 100% Grassfed” Certification
☐ We are not requesting “ PCO 100% Grassfed” certification.
97. List the livestock and/or livestock products requested for “ PCO 100% Grassfed” certification:
98. Will your operation be:
☐ All “PCO 100% Grassfed” certified animals
☐ Some “ PCO 100% Grassfed” certified animals and some animals not certified as “PCO 100% Grassfed” (split operation)
If managing a split operation, how do you identify certified and non-certified “PCO 100% Grassfed” livestock?
99. Do you plan to transition a “PCO 100% Grassfed” herd?
If yes, date transition started:
YES
NO
If no, did you purchase a certified grassfed herd?
YES
NO
YES
NO
If yes, what is the source and who are they certified by?
100. Do you raise replacement animals on farm for “PCO 100% Grassfed” certification?
101. Do you purchase any replacement animals that are certified grassfed?
YES
NO
If yes, give specific information on livestock purchased within the past 12 months: Please write the type of livestock
purchased, their identification no./name, date of purchase, projected real birthing date, the purchase source and what agency
certified them.
Type of Livestock
Page 14 of 17
Identification
Date of Purchase
Projected or Real
Purchase Source
Certifed
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
No./Name
Birthing Date
Grassfed by
What Agency?
102. Describe feed ration (if different than ration listed in Table 4):
Same ration as described in Table 4
103. Do you feed:
Milk (after weaning)
Grain and grain-by-products
Corn kernels or corn kernel by-products
Cake or meal feedstuffs
Concentrates
Food processing by-products or waste
Small grain or corn allowed to mature past the vegetative (pre-grain/pre-boot) state
104. Do you feed sprouted grains with the root portion attached?
YES
NO
N/A
105. How do you ensure that pastures that pastures that contain grain or corn crops are not intentionally managed to
allow grain or corn crops to mature past the vegetative (pre-grain/pre-boot) state?
YES
NO
N/A
106. Do you board “PCO 100% Grassfed” certified livestock elsewhere?
YES
NO
If yes, you must complete an Off-Farm Boarding Supplement form prior to moving livestock. Contact PCO to request
form.
107. Do you label any products as “PCO 100% Grassfed”?
YES
NO
If yes, you must complete a Processor/Handler Organic System Plan and Organic Product Profile for each product.
108. Does your organic recordkeeping system address the additional requirements of the “PCO 100% Grassfed”
standard?
YES
If not, what additional records are kept to ensure compliance with the “PCO 100% Grassfed” standards?
NO
109. Additional Comments:
SECTION 18: Conflict of Interest
§205.501
110. Have you used any organic production consultants for your operation in the last 12 months?
Yes
No
(This does not refer to your inspector, certification specialist, or other PCO representative involved with your certification review.)
If yes, list the name and contact information for organic production consultant(s) your operation has used in last 12 months (7 CFR
§205.501(a)(11)(ii)):
SECTION 19: Previous Organic Certification
§205.401
111. List current organic certification by other agencies and dates:
If currently certified by another agency, submit a copy of your current certificate and verification of the items you are certified
to produce/sell.
Page 15 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
112. If currently certified organic, has your operation received a non-compliance(s) or been issued a proposed suspension
or proposed revocation that has not yet been resolved?
Yes No
If yes, submit a copy of any adverse action notice including: notification of noncompliance, notification of proposed suspension
or proposed revocation issued to you and a description of any actions taken by you to correct the non-compliance(s) noted in
the adverse action notice, including evidence of such corrections an resolution letter from certifier, if any.
113. If previously certified, list names of agencies, dates, non-compliances and reasons for surrender or termination of
certification:
114. Have you ever been denied organic certification or has your organic certification ever been withdrawn, surrendered
suspended or revoked?
Yes No
If yes, submit a copy of any adverse action notice, including suspension, revocation or denial of certification issued to you and
a description of any actions taken by you to correct the non-compliances noted in the notification, including evidence of such
corrections and resolution letter from certifier or the National Organic Program Administrator, if any. If certification was
withdrawn or surrendered, provide reason:
115. Gross organic sales of organic crops in previous calendar year: $
If none sold, enter 0.
SECTION 20: Affirmation
Information provided on this application is held in strict confidence and will be used only for certification purposes. I affirm that all
statements made in this application are true and correct. To the best of my knowledge, no prohibited materials have been applied to
any of my organically managed fields during the three-year period prior to projected harvest.
I understand and agree as follows:
1. My operation may be subject to unannounced inspection and/or sampling for residues at any time as deemed appropriate to
ensure compliance with the National Organic Program.
2. Acceptance of this questionnaire in no way implies granting of certification by the certifying agent.
3. Failure to comply with the applicable regulations, policies or procedures, or giving false information may result in denial,
suspension, revocation or termination of certification.
4. Payment of all certification fees is a condition of certification.
As required by the National Organic Program, and as conditions of certification I agree to:
1. Cooperate with the certification process by completing all documentation requested.
2. Make every effort to ensure that no prohibited products have been used, applied or otherwise allowed to compromise the
integrity of the organic crops or products produced or sold by me.
3. Provide access to all areas and parts of my operation, including records, products and personnel.
4. Comply with the National Organic Program Rule (7 CFR Part 205) and Pennsylvania Certified Organic certification policies
and procedures.
5. Make appropriate certification claims, which accurately reflect the type of certification granted
6. Ensure that my certificate or certification report is not used in a misleading manner and does not harm PCO.
7. Only use certification claims, or the PCO name and logo, to indicate that products are in compliance with PCO standards,
and use them correctly on advertising, marketing and packaging materials.
8. Discontinue use of certification claims, and PCO name and logo, upon surrender, suspension, revocation or termination of
certification, and return any certification documents or materials required by PCO.
9. Notify PCO of any significant changes to my operation’s organic system plan.
10. Notify PCO concerning any application, including drift, of a prohibited substance to any field, production unit, site, facility,
livestock, or product that is part of an operation.
11. Comply with all conditions of certification listed on Certification Reports or other certification documents.
I understand that failure to abide by the above requirements may result in denial, suspension or revocation of my organic
certification, prosecution for fraud or misrepresentation, denial of services, or any other remedy allowed by law.
I give permission for PCO to release information from my file to other recognized certification organizations for purposes of document
review. I understand that PCO will obtain a confidentiality statement from the requesting certifier before releasing any information.
PCO has my permission to obtain information, documents, or materials related to certification or de-certification from other certifiers.
Your signature(s):
Page 16 of 17
Date:
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13
Organic System Plan – Livestock
If applicable:
Signature of Contracted Grower:
Date:
Required attachments: These records must be returned with your application or it may be returned to you resulting in a delay of the
certification process.
General Information Form (if new applicant)
Maps of the operation (including field #’s, acreage, buildings and adjoining land use)
Field and Pasture Records (with prior land use statements if not managed by you for the past three years)
Livestock Materials – Medicine Cabinet Inventory
Labels used on your organic product(s) (if applicable)
Brochures and/or other marketing materials (if applicable)
Page 17 of 17
OSP Livestock-Dairy V3, 10/23/13