National Organic Program: Notice of Final Guidance for Accredited Certifying Agents and Certified Operations

The National Organic Program (NOP) is announcing the availability of four final guidance documents intended for use by accredited certifying agents and certified operations. The four final guidance documents are entitled as follows: "Compost and Vermicompost in Organic Crop Production (NOP 5021); Wild Crop Harvesting (NOP 5022)"; "Commingling and Contamination Prevention in Organic Production and Handling (NOP 5025)"; and "The Use of Chlorine Materials in Organic Production and Handling (NOP 5026)". These final guidance documents are intended to inform the public of NOP's current thinking on these topics. These final guidance documents are now available from the NOP through "The Program Handbook: Guidance and Instructions for Accredited Certifying Agents (ACAs) and Certified Operations". The current edition of the Program Handbook is available online at http://www.ams.usda.gov/NopProgramHandbook, or in print upon request.