Accredited Certifiers Association Inc

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND EDUCATION. THE ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS ASSOCIATION (ACA) WILL PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (NOP) TO ADDRESS SEVERAL PROJECT AREAS AND IDENTIFY OTHERS AS NEEDED. THE WORK FOR THIS AGREEMENT WILL VARY DEPENDING ON PROJECT NEEDS, AND ACA’S STRATEGY TO ADDRESS THESE NEEDS MAY INCLUDE CONVENING WORKING GROUPS, LIAISING WITH ORGANIC STAKEHOLDERS, ASSISTING WITH USDA ORGANIC TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS, PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR THE STRENGTHENING ORGANIC ENFORCEMENT FINAL RULE, CREATING CONTENT FOR THE ANNUAL NOP CERTIFIER TRAINING, AND DEVELOPING A STREAMLINED MENTORSHIP PROGRAM. DELIVERABLES MAY INCLUDE FINALIZED GUIDANCE ON BEST PRACTICES, TRAININGS, AND WORKING COPIES OF POLICY MEMOS, INSTRUCTIONS, OR LETTERS TO CERTIFIERS. THIS PROJECT WILL BE RELEVANT TO ALL NOP-ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS, WHICH WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY AFFECT ALL CERTIFIED ORGANIC OPERATIONS, THOSE INTERESTED IN TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND OTHER ORGANIC STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS CONSUMERS.

THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD A COLLABORATIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS BY USDA-ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS. ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE FACILITATION OF WORKING GROUPS AND TH

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO ENSURE CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS THROUGH COLLABORATION AND EDUCATION. THE ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS ASSOCIATION (ACA) WILL PARTNER WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (NOP) TO ADDRESS SEVERAL PROJECT AREAS AND IDENTIFY OTHERS AS NEEDED. THE WORK FOR THIS AGREEMENT WILL INCLUDE CREATING WORKING GROUPS, USING FEEDBACK MODELS, DEVELOPING RESOURCES, AND CREATING CONTENT FOR THE ANNUAL NOP CERTIFIER TRAININGS. DELIVERABLES MAY INCLUDE BEST PRACTICES DOCUMENTS, TRAINING, AND WORKING VERSIONS OF INSTRUCTIONS AND/OR MEMOS TO CERTIFIERS. THIS PROJECT WILL BE RELEVANT TO ALL NOP-ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS, WHICH WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY AFFECT ALL CERTIFIED ORGANIC OPERATIONS, THOSE INTERESTED IN TRANSITIONING TO ORGANIC PRODUCTION, AND OTHER ORGANIC STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS CONSUMERS.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE CONSISTENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS THROUGH COLLABORATION WITH USDA�S NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM (NOP) AND EDUCATION OF ACCREDITED CERTIFICATION AGENCIES. USDA AUTHORIZES AND OVERSEES THIRD PARTY ORGANIZATIONS CALLED CERTIFIERS WHO CERTIFY FARMS AND BUSINESSES TO THE USDA ORGANIC REGULATIONS. THE SCOPE OF THIS WORK WILL BENEFIT CERTIFIERS, ORGANIC OPERATIONS, TRANSITIONING OPERATIONS, AND THE ORGANIC COMMUNITY. THE ACCREDITED CERTIFIERS ASSOCIATION PROPOSES SEVERAL PROJECT AREAS WHOSE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PROVIDING FEEDBACK AND TESTING ON IMPORT CERTIFICATE PROCESSES UNDER THE STRENGTHENING ORGANIC ENFORCEMENT FINAL RULE, CONTINUING COMMUNICATION IN CERTIFIER DISCUSSION GROUPS, AND DEVELOPING RESOURCES TO INCREASE CONSISTENCY ACROSS CERTIFIERS. DELIVERABLES WILL INCLUDE DEVELOPMENT OF WORKING GROUPS; DEVELOPMENT OF A MENTORSHIP PROGRAM; DEVELOPMENT OF TRAINING AND RESOURCE MATERIALS; PROVIDING CONTENT AND DELIVERY SUPPORT FOR THE ANNUAL NOP CERTIFIER TRAINING; SHARING SURVEY FEEDBACK; DRAFTING AGREEMENTS, BEST PRACTICES, INSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS, AND TRAININGS; AND SHARING ALL WORK PRODUCTS WITH CERTIFIERS.