CA Organic Farmers Association Loses Accreditation

WASHINGTONThe USDA Agricultural Marketing Service revoked the California Organic Farmers Association (COFA) accreditation as an organic certifying agent. The action means that COFA is no longer authorized by USDAs National Organic Program (NOP) to certify organic crop, livestock, wild crop or handling operations.

The NOP accredited COFA as an organic certifying agent in 2002. Five years later, in 2007, NOP conducted an audit of COFAs facility and records, and found 12 noncompliant items. COFA submitted corrective actions, but NOP determined that 10 of the noncompliant items were not adequately corrected. NOP then proposed that COFAs accreditation be revoked for failure to comply with the NOP regulations, or to proffer corrective actions. COFA appealed the NOPs decision, but it was denied.

Pursuant to federal regulations, COFA requested a formal administrative proceeding. In August 2010, COFA withdrew its request for a hearing, thereby upholding the denial of COFAs appeal and revoking COFAs accreditation for 3 years.

Operations previously certified by COFA are now under the direction of other accredited certifying agents.