C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 1 of 6
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
A. ADJOINING LAND USE: The NOP rule requires that organic production areas have distinct boundaries and buffer zones to prevent the unintended application of a
prohibited substance or contact with a prohibited substance that is applied to adjoining land not under organic management. Adjoining land includes crop land,
pastures, residential property, fallow land, etc. Buffer areas may change annually, depending on contamination potential from adjoining land uses. The width of the
minimum buffer is dependent on certifying agent policy The NOP rule requires that the buffer must be sufficient in size or other features (windbreaks, diversion
ditches) to prevent the unintended contact by prohibited substances applied to adjacent land areas.Crops within the required buffer must be left unharvested or
harvested, stored, and disposed of as non-organic crop, with records kept of crop disposition.
List specific buffer areas you maintain. This information must be in agreement with the maps requested in C2 – Farm Plan Information. Please use
additional sheets if necessary.
If crop is harvested from buffer,
Type of buffer
Type of adjoining land use
Location (Field
Border
describe use
( e. g. crop land, tree line, hedgerow,
(e.g. non-organic farm, native vegetation,
name or number) (N,S,E,W)
(e.g. sale, non-organic livestock
grass strip, wildlife habitat)
pasture)
feed, seed)
#7
N,E
Woods, creek
Native vegetation
n/a
#7
S,W
Crop land
Organic alfalfa
Sale as nonorganic
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 2 of 6
If crops are harvested from the buffer zones, how are they separated during harvest, storage and sales? Documentation of separation logs must be
available at inspection.
Given away
Harvest containers not marked “organic”
Crops not marked “organic” on crop records
Stored apart
Marked or flagged buffer areas
Sold to a different buyer than organic crops
Destroyed
Harvested at a different time
Tracked harvest and sales in separate records
Other, please specify:
What additional safeguards do you use to prevent accidental contamination of your crops and land?
Written notification to highway departments
Written notification to electric companies
Written notification to aerial spray companies/airports
Written notification to adjoining landowners
Other, please specify:
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 3 of 6
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
B. EQUIPMENT: To prevent commingling and contamination, all equipment used in organic crop production must be free of non-organic crops and prohibited materials.
Equipment used for both organic and non-organic farming (including any buffer zone) must be cleaned and flushed prior to use on organic fields or crops. Keep
records of equipment cleaning and flushing activities.
List all equipment used for planting, tillage, cultivation, spraying, and harvesting on organic fields. Please use additional sheets if necessary.
Used on both
Owned (O)
organic and
Do you keep
Equipment name
Rented (R)
How is equipment cleaned before use on organic fields?
conventional
cleaning records?
Custom (C)
fields? (Y/N)
Example – Combine
R
Y
Open all trap doors and run the combine empty for about 15 minutes. Sweep the Yes – written protocol
hopper and use an air compressor to remove all debris.
and checklist
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
C. STORAGE OF PROHIBITED SUBSTANCES
Do you store any prohibited materials on farm?
If yes, how do you identify and separate prohibited and allowed materials in storage areas?
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
No
Yes
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 4 of 6
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
D. HARVEST: NOP rule 205.272(b)(1) and (2) requires that containers, bins, and packaging materials must not contain synthetic fungicides, preservatives, or
fumigants. All reusable containers must be thoroughly cleaned and pose no risk of contamination prior to use on organic crops.
How are your organic crops harvested?
Mechanically
Are any organic crops custom harvested?
No
If yes, identify the name and address of the custom harvester and how you monitor the prevention of contamination or commingling:
By hand
Yes
If identical non-organic and organic crops are harvested on the same farm, how are they separated during harvest? Documentation of separation must be
available.
Closed containers
Harvest containers not marked “organic”
Sold to a different buyer than organic
Harvested at different time
Crops not marked “organic” on crop records
Tracked harvest in separate records
Other, please specify:
What containers are used for harvesting?
Gravity wagons/boxes
Wood totes
Plastic containers
Truck boxes
Are any containers shared with non-organic products?
If yes, describe how you prevent contamination or commingling:
Cardboard/waxed boxes
Other, please specify:
No
Yes
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 5 of 6
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
E. CROP STORAGE
How are crops stored?
NA, no crop or product storage
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
Store own product on site
Describe all storage locations. Please use additional sheets if necessary.
Storage Id
On-site or off-site
(if off-site, note location)
Example On-site
North silo
Store in a certified organic facility (provide organic certificate)
Type of crops
stored
Corn
Do you segregate organic crops from non-organic crops if in the same storage?
If yes, describe how you segregate crops and protect the organic crops from contamination or commingling:
Capacity
75 tons
Organic (O), Transitional (T),
Conventional (C), Not dedicated (ND)
O
No, dedicated organic
Yes
No
Yes
Are storage units clearly labeled for organic use?
If you are using any materials to control insect or rodents pests at the storage site, please list them in A7 – Inputs.
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
ECOCERT ICO – Crop Producer OSP
Page 6 of 6
C8 – Maintenance of Organic Integrity
F. TRANSPORTATION
NOP §205.201, §205.202, and §205.272
Are your crops or products transported?
No, crops are sold before transport
If yes, describe the containers, equipment, and vehicles used to transport crops or products harvested from field and describe destination:
Yes
Are any vehicles used for both organic and non-organic products?
If yes, describe how you prevent commingling and contamination:
Yes
No, vehicles are dedicated organic
Applicant Initials
Date
Approval
CM
Form code
C8 (v1) (f)
Last update
12/24/2013
If you have questions, we are happy to help. Please call: 1-888-337-8246. Submit your application at info.ecocertico@ecocert.com / Fax: 317-865-9707