Why the Common OSP Matters
Why the Common OSP Matters
Organic certification works best when expectations are clear, consistent, and grounded in regulation. The Common OSP was created to address long-standing challenges across the organic system—without shifting authority or adding burden.
At its core, the Common OSP supports a stronger, more resilient organic certification system.
Reducing Unnecessary Burden
Across the country, producers often spend dozens of hours completing Organic System Plans that vary significantly from certifier to certifier.
Early testing of the Common OSP showed:
Time to complete an OSP reduced from ~40 hours to ~10 hours
Fewer clarification requests
Less duplication of information
For certifiers, this translates to cleaner submissions, faster reviews, and fewer back-and-forth communications
Supporting Risk-Based Certification
The USDA’s Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule emphasizes the importance of risk-based oversight. The Common OSP supports this shift by:
Aligning questions directly to regulatory requirements
Standardizing baseline information across operations
Improving visibility into operational risks
Consistency helps certifiers, inspectors, and reviewers focus attention where it matters most.
Improving Consistency Across Certifiers
A shared OSP structure allows:
Inspectors to prepare more efficiently
Certifier staff to train more consistently
Operators to understand expectations more clearly
It also reduces barriers for producers who change certifiers by minimizing the need to recreate their OSP from scratch.
Strengthening the Organic System
The Common OSP creates opportunities for:
Standardized training across agencies
Shared educational resources
Improved system integrity
Reduced administrative overhead
By simplifying administration, certifiers can focus more on service, training, and responsiveness — not form maintenance
