Q&A

DEAR NEW FARM:

I import products from a sake brewery in Japan that was the first sake brewery to gain organic certification by JAS. I want to import this sake as “Certified Organic” under USDA rules and am trying to find a company that can do NOP certification. If you can be of assistance, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you,
Henry Sidel
New York

DEAR HENRY:

We asked National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) Chairman Jim Riddle to help us out with this one. Here’s what Jim had to say:

The sake needs to be certified by an NOP-accredited certifying agent. Henry should review The New Farm's Guide to US Organic Certifiers to locate a certifier who meets his needs. He can also look on the list of accredited certifiers on the NOP website—www.ams.usda.gov/nop/CertifyingAgents/Accredited.html. Make sure that the certifier is accredited for "processor" or "handler" certification.

Hope this helps,
Jim

NF

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