Prepare Your Facility: Organic Inspection Checklist
Navigating an organic inspection can be complex. This checklist provides a clear, step-by-step guide to ensure your CPG facility and records are fully prepared, minimizing stress and ensuring compliance. Get ready for a smooth inspection.
- ✓ Organize all organic documentation meticulously.
- ✓ Ensure physical segregation of organic products.
- ✓ Practice traceability and mass balance calculations.
Review Organic System Plan (OSP)
Ensure your Organic System Plan (OSP) is current and accurately reflects all organic processes, suppliers, and products. Verify all certifications for organic ingredients and materials are up-to-date and readily accessible. Include records of any non-compliance or corrective actions taken since the last inspection. Organize all documentation in an easily searchable format for the inspector's review.
Facility Cleanliness & Segregation
Thoroughly clean all production areas, storage facilities, and equipment. Ensure clear segregation between organic and non-organic products at all stages, from receiving to shipping. Label all organic ingredients, work-in-progress, and finished goods distinctly. Confirm pest control measures are organic-compliant and documented. Remove any unapproved substances.
Educate Your Team on Procedures
Confirm all personnel involved in organic operations understand their roles and responsibilities outlined in the OSP. Conduct a brief refresher training on organic handling procedures, cleaning protocols, and critical control points. Ensure staff can articulate organic integrity principles and identify potential cross-contamination risks during the inspection.
Confirm Traceability & Mass Balance
Prepare detailed records demonstrating full lot traceability for all organic ingredients from receipt to finished product. Conduct a mock mass balance calculation for a representative organic product to ensure input matches output within acceptable variances. Have all receiving, production, and shipping logs ready to present for verification.
Put This Into Practice with Guidance
Guidance automates the workflows behind this checklist — built specifically for CPG brands.
Apply as a Design Partner →Frequently Asked Questions
How often should we review our OSP?
Your OSP should be reviewed annually and updated whenever there are significant changes to your operations, suppliers, or products. Regular review ensures ongoing compliance and readiness for inspections.
What is the most common reason for non-compliance?
The most common reasons include inadequate record-keeping, insufficient segregation of organic and non-organic products, and failure to update the OSP with current practices. These issues often lead to traceability gaps.
Can Guidance help with traceability for organic inspections?
Yes, Guidance offers robust features for real-time COGS, organic mass balance, and lot traceability, streamlining your data for inspection readiness. It helps ensure your records are accurate and easily accessible.