In the fast-paced world of food and beverage logistics, staying ahead of regulatory changes is not just best practice—it’s essential for survival. The latest USDA organic regulations have set new standards, mandating that all operations handling organic products, including food shippers and warehouses, are required to be certified to handle organic goods, in compliance with the Supply Chain Organic System Verification program. This significant shift has left many logistics providers scrambling to gain understanding and adapt to the stringent requirements that define an organic supply chain.

The good news is that Prism Logistics has been an organic-certified food logistics service provider for more than a decade.  While others are newly navigating these waters, Prism Logistics is building on decades of experience, expertise and insight as a leader in organic food logistics and warehousing.  Early adaptation and a deep understanding of regulatory environments can lead to sustained success and trust in the competitive landscape of food logistics.

Below, we share our insights into the new regulations, and how organic food manufacturers can leverage our expertise to streamline their supply chain and remain compliant under the latest regulations.

Strengthening USDA Organic Integrity: Key Updates from the New SOE Regulations

The new regulations under the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule, which came into effect on 19 March 2024, mark a significant update to the USDA organic regulations. Designed to enhance the integrity and trust in USDA organic labeling, these new regulations aim to improve oversight and enforcement across the production, handling, and sale of organic products.

Here’s a summary of what the new regulations cover:

1. Extended Certification Requirements: More entities within the US organic supply chain, including brokers, traders, and food distributors, are now required to obtain organic food logistics certification. This expansion of certification requirements ensures a higher level of accountability and compliance throughout the supply chain, from production to distribution. The aim is to uphold the integrity of organic labels and prevent the mislabeling of non-organic products as organic.

2. Import Certificates: To enhance the monitoring of organic products entering the U.S., the new rule mandates that all organic agricultural imports must be accompanied by an electronic National Organic Program (NOP) certificate. These certificates are to be issued by an accredited certifying agent and logged in the USDA’s Organic INTEGRITY Database. This requirement ensures that all organic products meet the stringent standards of U.S. organic regulations, regardless of their country of origin.

3. Identification on Non-Retail Containers: To improve traceability and reduce risks of contamination and fraud, the new regulations require clear identification of organic products on non-retail containers. This labeling must specify that the contents are organic and include relevant certification details. Such measures are critical in maintaining organic food traceability and ensuring that organic standards are adhered to throughout the supply process.

4. On-Site Inspections: The new rule enhances the authority to conduct more rigorous and frequent on-site inspections of certified operations. These inspections are intended to verify compliance with organic standards and are a key component of ensuring the integrity of the organic certification process. Increased inspection frequency helps to promptly identify and correct any lapses in compliance.

5. Inspector and Certifier Training: The regulations set uniform qualification and training standards for organic inspectors and certifying agent personnel. This is aimed at maintaining high compliance levels across all certification bodies and ensuring that inspectors are well-equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to effectively enforce organic standards.

6. Standardized Certificates of Operation: To simplify and unify the documentation process, all certified organic operations are now required to use standardized certificates of operation. These standardized forms not only streamline the certification process but also facilitate easier verification and compliance checks by regulatory bodies.

7. Enhanced Reporting and Recordkeeping: All organic certifiers must issue standardized certificates of organic operation through the USDA’s Organic Integrity Database (INTEGRITY).

These regulations are part of the broader USDA efforts to protect and grow the organic sector, ensuring that the USDA organic seal remains a trusted symbol for consumers and producers alike.

Ensuring Organic Integrity: Best Practices at Prism Logistics

 “As consumers become increasingly attentive to food labels, ingredients and the way their food is processed, we expect to see continued growth in Organic and natural food markets in this region and nationwide. The entire PRISM team is committed to achieving and maintaining the highest caliber of service possible for this important and growing customer segment,” said Jere Van Puffelen, President of PRISM Team Services.

At Prism Logistics, we have been implementing and advocating best practices for the integrity and safety of organic goods throughout their journey, since our organic certification via Quality Assurance International QAI over a decade ago. We implement the following measures to uphold organic integrity and compliance with USDA regulations.

Transportation Practices:

• Utilize properly refrigerated and monitored trucks.
• Ensure organics are meticulously separated from non-organics when sharing vehicle space.

Warehouse Standards:

• Adhere to stringent standards upon arrival at our facilities.
• Implement special measures to prevent contamination risks common in organic food logistics.

Storage and Labeling:

• Use storage materials appropriate for organic foods.
• Clearly label all boxes with details of their contents and origin for full traceability.

Inventory and Equipment Management:

• Maintain separate records for organic inventory to prevent mix-ups with non-organic goods.
• Strictly prohibit the use of equipment previously used for non-organic products to eliminate contamination risks.

Warehouse Management System (WMS):

• Tailor our WMS to support these practices.
• Incorporate features that monitor storage temperatures and maintain meticulous records.
• Provide checks and balances to preserve temperature integrity and compliance with organic standards.

Prism Logistics: Maintaining Organic Integrity, Streamlining Operations

Organic food-grade warehouses have the crucial responsibility of maintaining conditions that protect the organic integrity of the products they store.

While regulatory bodies are urging suppliers to reach out to logistics providers to secure organic certification, the reality is that this process can be both time-consuming and costly. The journey to certification involves extensive compliance checks, adaptations in infrastructure, and training, all of which demand significant investments.

By partnering with an already certified team like Prism Logistics, businesses can bypass these hurdles. Prism has been ahead of the curve, maintaining organic certification since 2013, and is deeply familiar with the nuances of organic logistics.

Our certified facilities, proven processes, and experienced team ensure that your products meet the highest standards without the delay or financial burden of undergoing certification independently.

Contact us today to request a quote and learn how we can help your business to lead with integrity in the organic food industry.

ABOUT PRISM LOGISTICS: As a warehouse services and warehouse distribution management company, PRISM Logistics provides value added fulfillment and pick & pack services for B2B and B2C operations in California. For more information about PRISM Logistics Warehouse and Distribution services, request a quote. Follow PRISM Logistics on LINKEDIN and Facebook for food logistics and 3PL news.