CERTIFICATION | ORGA-NIKO LABS

NOP CERTIFICATION

ORGA-NIKO LABS ORGANIC & NATURAL SKIN CARE

Certified Organic = Healthy

What Is

USDA ORGANIC Certification?

USDA ORGANIC certification is a qualification process for producers of organic food and other organic agricultural products including personal health care products.

ORGA-NIKO LABS is USDA Certified to produce Certified Organic Skincare products. The USDA was selected due to its strictest regulations that must meet the NOP (USDA's National Organic Program) standards, which includes the following:

Ingredients that are free from synthetic chemicals: fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics or food additives or genetically modified organisms (GMO)
Ingredients grown on farmland that has been free from chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers...etc.) for at least three years
keeping detailed written production and sales records (audit trail)
Maintaining strict physical separation of certified organic products and non-certifed
Undergo periodic on-site inspections where organic products are grown, harvested, processed or manufactured

The Organic Foods Production Act (OFPA) and the National Organic Program (NOP) assure consumers that the organic agricultural products they purchase are produced, processed, and certified to consistent national organic standards.

The labeling requirements of the NOP apply to raw, fresh products and processed products that contain organic agricultural ingredients. Agricultural products that are sold, labelled, or represented as organic must be produced and processed in accordance with the NOP standards:

100% Organic—Foods bearing this label are made with 100% organic ingredients* and may display the USDA ORGANIC seal.
Organic—These products contain at least 95–99% organic ingredients (by weight). The remaining ingredients are not available organically but have been approved by the NOP. These products may display the USDA ORGANIC seal.
Made with Organic Ingredients—Food packaging that reads "Made With Organic Ingredients" must contain 70–94% organic ingredients. These products will not bear the USDA ORGANIC seal; instead, they may list up to three ingredients on the front of the packaging.
Other—Products with less than 70% organic ingredients may only list organic ingredients on the information panel of the packaging. These products will not bear the USDA ORGANIC seal.

ORGA-NIKO LABS has achieved USDA ORGANIC certification through Pro-Cert Organic Systems Ltd.

Pro-Cert certifies some 1,700 organic producers, processors, handlers and traders in Canada and the USA.

Pro-Cert's certification scope grew from certification to its own standard to certification via appropriate accreditation to:

The Canadian Organic Standards and Product Regulations;
The EC Regulation 834/07 and 889/08;
The USDA National Organic Program;
The Quebec Organic Reference Standards;
MAFF (JAS) Regulations.

*Salt and water are not included.

Not All

Organic Certifications Are Equal!

Where Is

USDA ORGANIC Program?

USDA stands for US Department of Agriculture. The USDA has several agencies to help to keep America's farmers and food supply safe, wholesome, and properly labeled. They also help to ensure the health and care of animals and plants and the health of the land through sustainable management. This includes organic raw materials for the manufacture of personal health care products. These agencies also inspect facilities, review ingredients and award compliant USDA ORGANIC certifications to personal health products. Canada currently does have a certification program for personal health care products.

ORGA-NIKO LABS selected the USDA ORGANIC certification in part due to their strictest regulations, which allows only accepted USDA ingredients and forbids non-organic and harmful ingredients and processes. This is compatible with our vision to formulate and manufacture products and are among the cleanest and healthiest for us and the environment.

Why Is

USDA ORGANIC Certification Important?

A product claiming to be organic is very different from a product that is USDA ORGANIC certified. The quality of the ingredients, of any product NOT certified, is unregulated which means, it may contain toxic preservatives, pesticides, herbicides, genetically modified or contaminated...and many more unknowns.

USDA Organic ingredients are rigorously regulated and registered with the USDA database. These are the only ingredients allowed in the manufacture of skin care products that bear the USDA ORGANIC seal.

Who Is

Eligible to be USDA ORGANIC Certified ?

The requirement to become USDA ORGANIC certified your product must be manufactured at a facility that has been NOP inspected and certified. ORGA-NIKO LABS is certified to produce USDA ORGANIC products. We can manufacture products for our clients and place the USDA ORGANIC seal on the package for product ingredients and label design that comply with the NOP program requirements.

The client will become USDA ORGANIC certified for their product(s) and registered with the NOP program as the supplier or products with the USDA ORGANIC seal on the label. The USDA ORGANIC seal on the label is a prestigious statement of your products integrity, which reflects on your company high values and interests.

Using the USDA ORGANIC seal without authorization will result in penalties of up to $11,000 per violation when evidence shows that a business has violated the regulations, or has represented products as organic without certification

When Is

USDA ORGANIC Certification Awarded?

Certification involves the submission of the final label for the approved custom formula or express line product, along with certifications for all ingredients used in the product - a fee applies for each product filing. Once NOP registered is approved, the client will be registered in the NOP database and entitled to have the USDA ORGANIC seal on the label. Normally the registration process will last one week.

USDA ORGANIC certified products must be fully packaged and labelled by ORGA-NIKO LABS prior to shipping. Bulk shipments of USDA ORGANIC products to be filled by client is not permitted by the NOP.

Misconceptions

About USDA ORGANIC Certification

USDA is not the same as FDA (Food & Drug Administration). USDA certifies organic ingredients for foods or manufacturing, the FDA controls food and drugs.

USDA Certified products are too expensive! This is not true, USDA Organic products are very affordable and effective, clean and healthy.

All certifications are equal! This is not a correct assumption. The USDA has very strict regulations while other certifiers tend to be more lenient and still allow harmful ingredients.