National Organic Program

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Room 2642-South, STOP 0268

Washington, DC 20250-0268

NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM RESPONSE TO 2020 PEER REVIEW

December 11, 2020

FROM: Jennifer Tucker, Ph.D.

Deputy Administrator

National Organic Program (NOP)

SUBJECT: National Organic Program Response to 2020 Peer Review

Background

The peer review process is a vital component of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) 

Agricultural Marketing Service National Organic Program’s (NOP) commitment to continuous 

improvement. The peer review process is described in NOP 1031 “Peer Review of National 

Organic Program (NOP) Accreditation.” For its 2020 peer review, the NOP contracted with the 

ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB). The 2020 ANAB Peer Review Panel evaluated 

NOP’s compliance with NOP accreditation procedures and decisions, and with ISO/IEC 17011, a 

quality standard.

Overall, the ANAB auditors found that NOP and its staff are in compliance with NOP’s own 

policies and procedures, and ISO/IEC 17011.

Opportunities for Improvement

Below is NOP’s summary of ANAB’s recommended two areas for improvement.

1. Documented Assessment Procedure. The NOP does not have a documented policy or 

procedure for the timely completion of accreditation assessments.

2. Satellite Office Process. The NOP does not have a defined process for completing

certifier satellite office assessments as part of the accreditation cycle.

NOP Response

Since the 2019 Peer Review was completed, NOP has focused significant resources on

addressing personnel needs, quality management improvements, and developing training. In 

response to the two opportunities for improvement, the NOP is implementing the following

changes:

1. Documented Assessment Procedure. The NOP has successfully expanded the 

Accreditation Division by hiring additional Accreditation Managers and Auditors. The 

increase in personnel resources has already supported the division in meeting timely 

assessment completion goals. In 2020, the NOP successfully conducted 54 audits and 

assessments of certifiers. To support this ongoing progress, the NOP will develop and 
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document an official timeline with goals for the assessment process.

2. Satellite Office Process. The NOP continues to audit certifier satellite offices on a 

regular basis. In response to the observation that the NOP doesn’t have a defined process 

for satellite office audits, the NOP will document an official satellite office audit policy 

to help clarify the process already in use. The official satellite office audit policy will 

reflect the ongoing risk-based oversight approaches currently in development. The NOP’s 

expansion of the Accreditation Division included the new position of an Audit 

Supervisor. Having a position dedicated to overseeing the certifier audit schedule 

supports the division in implementing a risk-based satellite office audit policy.

Next Steps

The NOP values the constructive feedback from ANAB. We take continuous improvement

seriously and will continue to evolve our process controls and planning. By focusing on quality 

and risk-aware accreditation processes, the NOP continues to support the organic community and 

maintain organic integrity for all.