Quality Certification Services

The name 'Quality Certification Services' (QCS) was adopted by the organic certification program of Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc., (FOG) in 2001 to adapt to expanding services, a growing clientele, and demand for a geographically neutral name. QCS is simply a new name for the same committment to customer service and affordable certification as shown in FOG's 13- year-history of certifying organic operations.

Quality Certification Services offers USDA ISO Guide 65 and USDA National Organic Program accredited certification options. QCS currently offers the following certification options:

Certified Organic

Certified Transitional

Certified Hormone and Antibiotic Free

QCS certifies Farming, Wildcrafting, Livestock, Processing, Packing, and Handling operations. While our home office is in Florida, we certify entities nationally and internationally. QCS meets the needs of operations regardless of type, location, or size.

INDUSTRY NEWS

US & Canada Equivalency Agreement

The United States and Canada, the worlds largest trading partners, signed a landmark organic trade equivalency agreement June 17, 2009, at the All Things Organic conference in, Chicago, Illinois. The announcement was made by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Kathleen Merrigan during her keynote address to the organic industry. The National Organic Program and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency signed the agreements during the State of the Organic Industry in North America.Seminar Wednesday afternoon. This landmark agreement assures the free flow of organic trade between Canada and the US, mutually accredits our respective certification bodies and allows for use of the both the USDA and Canadian organic seals on certified organic products in Canada and the US. The agreements require verification that antibiotics have not been used in livestock production for foods exported to the US and verification that Chilean Nitrate was not used in the production of organic crops exported to Canada. Precise language and details will be forthcoming at the publication of the Canadian Organic Regime on June 24, 2009. Source: OTA.

Cost Share Program to Aid Organic Farmers in Florida

Florida Certified Organic Growers and Consumers, Inc. (FOG) is accepting applications from certified organic growers and handlers in Florida for reimbursement of up to 75 percent of certification costs, or a maximum of $750. Reimbursement for certification costs paid between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009, will be issued on a first-come, first-served basis until funds are depleted. The deadline for submitting applications is October 15, 2009.

To qualify for the organic certification cost share reimbursement, an operator must have certified organic farm or production facilities in Florida, must hold an organic certificate issued by a USDA accredited certification agency issued between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009, and must not have previously received cost share reimbursement for the same period.

Application