NOP: Certified organic fraudulent and National List Sunset Dates

They pointed out the circulation of fraudulent certified organic. It also detailed the expiration dates of all substances on the National List.

The Department of Agriculture United States, through the NOP (National Organic Program), alerted the community about the circulation of six fraudulent certified organic under NOP regulations, thus violating the law of organic food production in 1990. The cases were reported to the NOP accredited certifiers and other organizations.

The NOP encourages the different agents to continue to alert the U.S. Agency for organic about these deceptive practices that violate USDA organic regulations. In turn, reports that the use of these fraudulent documents to sell, label or sell non-organic products as organic farming can result in a civil penalty of up to U$S 11,000 per violation.

A fraud case was related to Harold Chase, Oregon (USA), who pleaded guilty to selling more than 2 million kilos of corn falsely labeled as "organic" according to the USDA standard. It is the fifth NOP related research that resulted in a U.S. federal indictment. Chase faces a sentence of 20 years imprisonment or a fine of $ 250,000.

All mentioned before reveals the importance of records and audits as integral components of the organic certification system.

Moreover, the recently published NOP 5611, Sunset Dates National List, which details the expiration dates for all substances included on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances (National List). Under the law of organic food production in 1990, the U.S. National Committee on Organic Standards should reveer all substances included in the National List every five years, thus recommending the renewal, removal or modification of each element.

Datasheets of fraudulent certified organic:

Operador (nombre y ubicación): Mujezat Al Shifa Foodstuff Co. W.L.L.; P.O. Box 1979, Salmiya 22020 Kuwait
Número de certificado: OC-19ME2344
Productos certificados: Various products.
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: Fraudulent certificate is marked with an Organic Food Federation logo
Fecha: 11 September 2008

Operador (nombre y ubicación): Netania Commercial; Kilometro 13½ Ortega, Espaillat, Republica Dominica
Número de certificado: NETAN-NOP-10964/12.08/15250-DO
Productos certificados: Bell Pepper, Tomato
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: BCS; Nurnberg, Germany (Netania Commercial was previously certified organic by BCS for avacados only. Netania's certification with BCS ended in January 2011. BCS brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
Fecha: Nurnberg, 21.11.2010 

Operador (nombre y ubicación):  Xuzhou Kanata Foodstuff Co., Ltd.; Room B401, Tai Feng Building, Yellow River Garden, Jiahe Street, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
Número de certificado: 38743-03
Productos certificados: Green Sword Beans, Autumn Broccoli, Burdock, Garlic, Onion, Pumpkin, Green Soybeans, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Potato, Ginger, Chili, Green Pepper
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: Fraudulent certificate is marked with an Organic Crop Improvement Association International, Inc. (OCIA) logo (OCIO brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production)
Fecha: China, October 18, 2011 

Operador (nombre y ubicación): Caltex Manufacturing Oil Company, 21 Jalan Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor 50754, Malaysia
Número de certificado: 314
Productos certificados: Productos procesados.
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: Colorado Department of Agriculture (Nota: confirmó que el certificado es fraudulento y que no es responsable por su producción).
Fecha: 16 de enero del 2011.

Operador (nombre y ubicación): Shenzen Fuyakang Biology and Technology Co., Ltd; Room 1307 Jiniuanshidal Bulding; Heping Road, Longhua Bao'an District, Shenshen, China
Número de certificado: 2672CNOB800SZ3(US)
Productos certificados: Organic Green Coffee, Organic Tea, Organic Hot Chocolate
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: ECOCERT; L'Isle-Jourdain, France (Note: ECOCERT brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
Fecha: 2010-2-28 

Operador (nombre y ubicación): Kalerie Berries LLC; 1 Lazareva Blvd, Kostomuksha; Republic of Kalerie, 186930; Russian Federation
Número de certificado: 327
Productos certificados: Blueberries, Lingonberries, Cranberries, Gooseberries, Redcurrants, Aronia
Agente certificador acreditado por USDA: CERES; Zimmern, Germany (Note: CERES brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
Fecha: Happurg, 30.08.10

Sources: www.kval.com; USDA; NOP 5611, National List Sunset Dates