Fees & Cost Share

This fee is due each year with your Organic System Plan or Annual Update. It covers your basic certification services for the upcoming certification season, including review of your certification documents for compliance with the regulations. It includes the PCO certification manual, material lists and review services, newsletter, and educational events & materials at no additional charge. You also have direct access to a certification specialist’s expertise via phone, mail or email. Operations must inform PCO that they wish to surrender by the annual update paperwork due date to avoid fees.

The sales assessment fee is calculated on your annual gross organic sales for farming, handling and processing operations in the previous year. You will receive an invoice for these fees after we receive your application or annual update.

This fee covers the additional time and expertise required to certify operations that are more complicated than those with only crops or land.

The inspection fee includes the inspector’s time spent in preparation for, execution of, and final production of the inspection report. In addition, travel expenses including time, transportation costs, lodging, meals, etc. will be assessed. PCO works hard to coordinate inspections in geographic regions to minimize travel time. You can lower your costs by having records and materials close at hand and well-organized when the inspector arrives.

Other fees may include a new applicant fee (includes processing of application, Certification and National Organic Program (NOP) manuals, Material Lists and guidance documents), expedited services, and additional fees related to circumstances beyond the regular certification process.