Learn

• Submit application forms and payment to the PACS office. Visit the Register and Transfer page to start the application process via our new Online Members Portal. 
• Initial Fees payment includes PACS annual membership fees (including COABC fees) as well as, certification and inspection deposits.
• Renewing clients will receive an email notification with a renewal fees invoice approximately 2 months before their certification renewal deadline.

Application information for:

• Crop and livestock (land-based operations) shall apply to PACS at least 15 months prior to the desired certification date. New land-based crop and livestock operations will receive a transitional letter after their first inspection to acknowledge the transition of the land for at least 12 months prior to being eligible for organic status. Transition dates are calculated from a minimum of 12 months from date of applying to PACS, or 36 months since the last date of application of a prohibited substance. A crop enterprise must receive two inspections prior to certification being issued (one in the year of application and one prior to becoming eligible for organic sales.
• Preparation clients do not require transition and may sell products as organic upon receipt of their organic certificate. A preparation client should apply at least 6 months prior to the anticipated release of organic products into marketplace. Prospective clients with multi-ingredient products click here for more information on certification.

• Upon receipt of your Initial Registration forms and fees, the PACS admin staff will create your file and pass it to the Certification Committee for review.
• The Certification Committee may request additional information and/or documentation, but will confirm when your enterprise is ready for inspection.

• When the Certification Committee has completed reviewing your pre-inspection documents, they will send you an email confirming that your file has been passed to the Verification Officer (VO) for inspection.  
• The VO will contact you directly to schedule the inspection. The Certification Committee (CC) will often instruct the VO to conduct the inspection during a specific time (ie, this could be production season or harvest for crops). It is your responsibility to be available during the time the VO has noted.
• Your onsite processes will be verified, records audited and products inspected.

How to Prepare for an Inspection

• The Verification Officer will submit the inspection documents back to PACS within 2 weeks following the inspection.
• Your file will go into the queue for the post-inspection review.
• The Certification Committee will review the all documents and come to a certification decision.

• The PACS Certification Committee may need to follow up with the client after the inspection. If they have any questions, or have identified a non-confirmity, etc. they will notify the client via email. The client must address any questions, concerns and/or non-conformities before an Organic Certificate or Letter of Status can be issued.

• When the post-inspection review has been completed, the PACS Admin team will issue your certification package which includes:           
  • Certification Invoice  
  • VO Inspection Report(s)
  • Certification Review Report (CRR)
  • Organic Certificate (or letter of status)