United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250 Page 1 of 7

NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

National Organic Program

Annual Report Checklist

Instructions: 

Accredited Certifying Agents (ACA) are to use this checklist to submit annual report information to the National Organic Program 

(NOP). The goal of the annual report is to identify any changes that have occurred in the ACA’s organization since the previous 

assessment or annual report, as applicable. Indicate if any changes have occurred by marking the “yes” or “no” column, as 

appropriate. If changes have occurred, the updated information must be submitted to the NOP with this completed checklist; 

information may be inserted directly into this checklist or attached separately and referenced in the checklist. 

The annual report is due on the anniversary date of the ACA’s accreditation; mailed information must be postmarked by the 

anniversary date of the ACA’s accreditation. Annual reports must be submitted electronically via email or on electronic media (e.g. 

compact disk (CD, flash memory card, etc.); paper documents will not be accepted. 

Where to Send Annual Reports Electronically: 

Email: AIAInBox@usda.gov

DVDs, CDs, and flash drives must be submitted to:

USDA, AMS, National Organic Program 

c/o NOP Accreditation Division

1400 Independence Avenue, SW 

Room 2648, Stop 0268 

Washington, DC 20250 
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250 Page 2 of 7

NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

Changes?

Yes/No

NOP ANNUAL REPORT CHECKLIST

Requirement Insert Responses or References Here For Internal Use Only

Name of Company:

Name of Contact Person:

Phone number of contact person: 

Email address of contact person:

§ 205.510 – Annual report, recordkeeping, and renewal of accreditation

(a) Annual report and fees. Certifying agents must annually submit to the NOP, on or before the anniversary date of 

the issuance of the notification of accreditation.

(1) Requires that the report contain a complete and accurate update of information submitted pursuant to §§ 205.503 and 205.504; See §§

205.503 and 205.504 below.

(2) Information supporting any changes being requested in the areas of accreditation described in § 205.500.

(3) Requires submission of a description of the measures implemented in the previous year and any measures to be implemented in the coming 

year to satisfy any terms and conditions determined by the Administrator to be necessary, as specified in the most recent notification of 

accreditation or notice of renewal of accreditation.

(4) Requires submission of the results of the most 

recent performance evaluations and annual program 

review and a description of adjustments to the 

certifying agent's operation and procedures 

implemented or to be implemented in response to 

the performance evaluations and program review 

included in the report. The proposed changes must 

satisfy the NOP requirements.

(5) Requires that the fees described in § 205.640(a) be paid.
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250 Page 3 of 7

NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

§ 205.500 – Areas and duration of accreditation

§ 205.503 - Applicant information

A private or governmental entity seeking accreditation as a certifying agent must submit the following information:

(a) Any updates to the business name, primary 

office location, mailing address, name of the 

person(s) responsible for the certifying agent's dayto-day operations, contact numbers (telephone, 

facsimile, and Internet address) of the applicant, 

and, for an applicant who is a private person, the 

entity's taxpayer identification number.

(b) Any additions or updates to the name, office 

location, mailing address, and contact numbers 

(telephone, facsimile, and Internet address) for each 

of its organizational units, such as chapters or 

subsidiary offices, and the name of a contact person 

for each unit.

(c) Each area of operation (crops, wild crops, 

livestock, or handling) for which accreditation is 

requested and the estimated number of each type of 

operation anticipated to be certified annually by the 

applicant along with a copy of the applicant's 

schedule of fees for all services to be provided 

under these regulations by the applicant.

The certifier must maintain current and accurate 

data in the Organic Integrity Database for each 

operation which it certifies. See § 205.501(a)(15). 

(d) Any updates to the type of entity the applicant is 

(e.g., government agricultural office, for-profit 

business, not-for-profit membership association).

(1) For a governmental entity, any changes to 

the official's authority to conduct certification 

activities under the Act and the regulations in 

this part.

(2) For a private entity, any changes to the 

entity's status and organizational purpose, such 

as articles of incorporation and by-laws or 

ownership or membership provisions, and its 

date of establishment.
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

National Organic Program Washington, DC 20250 Page 4 of 7

NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

(e) Any updates to the list of State or foreign 

countries in which the certifying agent certifies 

production and handling operations and a list of 

each State or foreign country in which the certifying 

agent intends to certify production or handling 

operations.

§ 205.504 Evidence of expertise and ability.

To become an accredited certifying agent, a private or governmental entity submitted documents and information to demonstrate its expertise 

in organic production or handling techniques; its ability to fully comply with and implement the organic certification program established in 

subparts §§ 205.100 and 205.101, §§ 205.201 through 205.203, §§ 205.300 through 205.303, §§ 205.400 through 205.406, and §§ 205.661 and 

205.662; and its ability to comply with the requirements for accreditation set forth in § 205.501.

(a) Personnel.

(1) Any updates to the policies and procedures for 

training, evaluating, and supervising personnel;

(2) Any updates to the name and position 

description of personnel used in the certification 

operation, including administrative staff, 

certification inspectors, members of any 

certification review and evaluation committees, 

contractors, and all parties responsibly connected to 

the certifying agent;

(3) Any updates to the description of the 

qualifications, including experience, training, and 

education in agriculture, organic production, and 

organic handling, for:

(i) Each inspector used and

(ii) Each person designated to review or evaluate 

applications for certification; and

(4) Any updates to the description of any training 

that has been provided or is intended to be provided 

to personnel to ensure that they comply with and 

implement the requirements of the Act and the 

regulations in this part.

(b) Administrative policies and procedures.

(1) Any updates to the procedures used to evaluate 

certification applicants, make certification 

decisions, and issue certification certificates;
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

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NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

(2) Any updates to the procedures used for 

reviewing and investigating certified operation 

compliance with the Act and the regulations in this 

part and the reporting of violations of the Act and 

the regulations in this part to the Administrator;

(3) Any updates to the procedures used for 

complying with the recordkeeping requirements set 

forth in § 205.501(a)(9);

(4) Any updates to the procedures used for sharing 

information with other certifying agents and for

maintaining the confidentiality of any businessrelated information as set forth in § 205.501(a)(10);

(5) Any updates to the procedures used, including 

any fees to be assessed, for making the following 

information available to any member of the public 

upon request:

(i) Certification certificates issued;

(ii) A list of producers and handlers whose 

operations it has certified, including for each the 

name of the operation, type(s) of operation, 

products produced, and the effective date of the 

certification;

(iii) The results of laboratory analyses for 

residues of pesticides and other prohibited 

substances conducted; and

(iv) Other business information as permitted in 

writing by the producer or handler.

(6) Any updates to the procedures used for 

sampling and residue testing pursuant to § 205.670.
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

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(7) Any updates to: 

• the criteria used to identify high-risk 

operations and agricultural producers for 

supply chain traceability audits; 

• the procedures used to conduct risk-based 

supply chain traceability audits, as 

required in § 205.501(a)(21); and

• the procedures used to report credible 

evidence of organic fraud to the 

Administrator.

(8) Any updates to the reasonable decision criteria 

for acceptance of mediation, and processes used for 

identifying personnel conducting mediation and 

setting up mediation

(c) Conflicts of interest.

(1) Any updates to the procedures implemented to 

prevent the occurrence of conflicts of interest, as 

described in § 205.501(a)(11).

(2) Any updates to the conflict of interest disclosure 

report for all persons who review applications for 

certification, perform on-site inspections, review 

certification documents, evaluate qualifications for 

certification, make recommendations concerning 

certification, or make certification decisions and all 

parties responsibly connected to the certifying 

agent. The report must identify any food- or 

agriculture-related business interests, including 

business interests of immediate family members, 

that cause a conflict of interest

(d) Current certification activities.

An applicant who currently certifies production or 

handling operations must submit:

N/A – Only applicable to initial applicants. 

(e) Other information.

Any updates to any other information that may 

assist in the Administrator's evaluation of the 

agent’s expertise and ability.
United States Department of Agriculture 1400 Independence Avenue S.W. NOP 2024-1

Agricultural Marketing Service Room 2646-South Building Effective Date: March 20, 2024 

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NOP 2014-1 NOP Annual Update Checklist Rev04 Authorized Distribution: Public

(1) Submit an update on all corrective actions 

accepted by NOP on issued noncompliances. 

Ex: NPXXXXA.NC1 – The updated Certificate 

template was incorporated and is being used to 

issue new certificates. 

(2) New satellite office: Provide the name, address, 

main contact person, and key certification activities 

being conducted for each new satellite office. 

For Internal Use Only

Section I – General Information

Date Review Initiated Course of Action Taken Accepted

Additional Information Requested

Clarification of Submitted Information

 Forwarded to Accreditation Committee

NoNC Issued 

Other

Date Review Completion

Assigned NOP Staff

Section II – Comments