Organic Fraud Prevention Partnership

Organic Fraud Prevention Solutions is a program that organic businesses may voluntarily enroll in to

help minimize or eliminate organic fraud. The program is based on buyer responsibility and supply

chain management, and provides companies with a risk-based process for developing and

implementing an organic fraud prevention plan. The program complements and reinforces organic

certification and enforcement efforts of USDA’s National Organic Program and organic certifiers

through promotion of industry-wide, best practices for improving the resilience and overall integrity of

global organic supply chains.

The goals of the program include:

• Establish an industry standard practice for improving organic supply chain management
• Assure the authenticity of organic products by minimizing or eliminating fraud
• Maintain or grow consumer confidence in the USDA Organic seal
• Recognize businesses that are enrolled in the program

This program is NOT a certification program, verification program, or add-on label. The program is a quality

assurance program that is helpful in business-to-business marketing and sourcing practices to ensure the

integrity of the organic supply chain.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM?

To enroll in the program, a company must be either USDA certified organic, Global Organic Textile Standard

(GOTS) certified, or listed with a USDA recognized Material Review Organization such as the Organic Material

Review Organization (OMRI) or the WSDA Organic Materials Registration Program. Eligible operations include

any certified operation in the organic supply chain (e.g. farmers, handlers, processors, distributors, traders,

retailers and input manufacturers). There are also opportunities for organic certifiers, consultants and advisors

that would like to partner in the program as experts in the subject matter.

WHY IS THE PROGRAM IMPORTANT?

Organic fraud cannot be tolerated in the organic supply chain, inside or outside the United States. Anytime

there is fraud anywhere in the organic system, it takes value out of the organic label. Everyone plays a role in

preventing organic fraud. It is critical that organic businesses have robust systems and measures in place that

adequately support the promise of providing organic products that people can trust. Organic Fraud

Prevention Solutions, as adopted by businesses engaged in organic trade, will become the industry standard

reference for excellence in achieving integrity across complex organic global supply chains.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF ENROLLING?

The primary reason to enroll in the program is to strengthen the transparency and traceability of your organic

supply chain in order to prevent organic fraud. Organic companies that want to be publicly recognized for

having implemented an Organic Fraud Prevention Plan need to successfully complete the enrollment process

and maintain organic fraud mitigation measures on an on-going basis. Leadership and commitment from

organic businesses will drive adoption of the program. The more companies that join, the stronger the organic

supply chain will become.