comprehensive Certifying integrity of organic claims and products, from field to retail shelf, since 1989.

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1 Your path to comprehensive certification Certifying integrity of organic claims and products, from field to retail shelf, since Quality Assurance International An NSF International Company

2 As a pioneer in the organic industry for over 20 years, QAI remains a leader and advocate for certified organic practices today. QAI s organic certification program certifies every step of the organic production chain for companies of all sizes, from independent farms to global manufacturers. Our mission is to build and retain trust in certified organic for the long term.

3 Five Steps to QAI Organic Certification Step #1: The Application QAI s application phase requires detailed information about your organic operation, be it a farm, ranch, manufacturing plant, distributor or handling operation. By using QAI s innovative, user-friendly forms, you will initiate a streamlined and thorough certification process. Your completed application enables QAI s organic certification experts to concretely understand the scope of your operation, the organic practices you maintain and the specific products grown, processed, handled and/or traded by your company. Step #2: The On-Site Inspection QAI conducts an annual on-site inspection during which the QAI inspector verifies the detailed information provided in your company s formal application. This inspection ensures all practices are fully compliant with current federal organic regulations. Step #3: The Technical Review In the technical review, a QAI technical expert reviews the report and summarizes what was observed at the onsite inspection. If the inspector documents any practices that deviate from those identified in the application, and if those practices are not consistent with organic regulations, they will be noted as non-compliances. Step #4: The Notification and Resolution Process Should QAI identify any non-compliances, your company has the opportunity to provide timely resolution to these issues. Step #5: The Certification QAI-certified operations demonstrating full-compliance with federal regulations for organic receive an official, numbered certificate. This document remains in good standing as long as the company remains in compliance with requirements. Upon formal certification, companies may proudly use the QAI seal on shipping packaging, product labels and marketing materials. The QAI seal is the organic industry s most widely recognized organic certification mark.

4 Entrusting the Q for Your Organic Certification QAI was founded in 1989 with a singular focus on organic certification, at a time when the organic industry was lobbying for organic regulations to become federal law. QAI leaders fought hard along with the Organic Trade Association (OTA) and other pioneering business and agriculture leaders for the Organic Foods Production Act of 1990 to become federal law, which commenced in Today, the National Organic Program (NOP) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture oversees organic regulations and enforcement of those regulations. For more than two decades, businesses of all types and size have come to trust QAI for their certification needs based on our history of integrity, technical expertise, professionalism, proficiency, efficiency, and industry leadership. QAI s track record of quality and our commitment to high-integrity practices in organic are evident in our global accreditations: United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Accreditation / USDA Certificate - National Organic Program International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS) - European Recognition Programme (EU) - ISO Canadian Organic Regime (COR) - ISO Conseil des appellations reserves et des termes valorisants (CARTV, Canada) JAS through our Japan-based MAFF accredited partner EcoCert The Q Wants You to Know The USDA NOP established equivalency agreements with Japan in 2013, the European Union in 2012 and Canada in 2009.

5 Business is now global... and so is QAI S presence and reach.

6 NSF s heritage in food quality and safety combines with and complements QAI s leadership in organic.

7 Our Partner in Public Health and Safety QAI is proud to be a member of the NSF International family of companies. Since 1944, NSF International has continually fulfilled its mission of protecting public health. With over seven decades of experience, NSF s public health and safety mission is the company s cornerstone, with farm-to-fork food safety services including training, technical services, auditing, certification, testing and data management at every link of the food production chain. Comprehensive Farm-to-Fork Services QAI can serve as your company s conduit to increased food safety assurance, and therefore brand protection, through our relationship with NSF. The NSF International Global Food Safety and Quality Division provides experienced and accredited services to each link on the food production chain including agriculture, fresh produce, livestock, poultry, processed foods, seafood, dairy, packaging and distribution, restaurants and retail. NSF s sector-specific experts possess the experience and competency to assist food companies in meeting today s demanding challenges. Here are some of the farm-to-fork services NSF can provide to QAI clients: Food safety auditing and technical services Food safety training Label verification claims through NSF Specialty Foods Certification to Global Food Safety Standards Seafood safety and quality auditing services Local Farm Assurance program The Q Wants You to Know The publication of Rachel Carson s Silent Spring in 1962 spurred the environmental awakening of the 1970s that gave rise to early sustainable agriculture efforts. These in turn evolved into the organic agriculture and food movements of today.

8 Combining Audits While QAI s heritage is in organic certification, we now have a new pathway for companies to efficiently bundle audits for various programs, for increased efficiency and potential cost savings. In addition to certification to Global Food Safety Standards such as SQF, BRC, PrimusGFS, and GLOBALG.A.P., we also offer the following services from NSF s Specialty Foods Program, Dietary Supplements Program, Sustainability Program and Training and Education Center: Food/Dietary Supplements: Gluten-Free Certification Personal Care: Food Safety Training Programs Dietary Supplement Good Manufacturing Practices Registration NSF/ANSI Contains Organic Ingredients Personal Care Certification Green Claims: NSF Sustainability Certification Affiliate Certifications: U.S. EPA Safer Choice Program Star-K Kosher Certification IBD Eco-Social Certification Non-GMO Project Verification

9 Today s consumer reads labels and demands credible claims.

10 Providing services to support your food quality and safety compliance needs.

11 NSF FOOD SAFETY CERTIFICATION, LLC The Global Food Safety Initiative Retail and regulatory drivers have completely changed the landscape of food safety certification. Manufacturers and suppliers, both large and small, are now evaluating their quality and safety procedures more closely than ever, and seeking certification from a respected provider. With more than 25,000 certifications issued annually across North and Latin America, Europe, and Asia, NSF International provides more certifications to the Global Food Safety Initiative* than any other certifier. GFSI certification is an additional complementary service offered through our audit bundling services, which will help streamline your audit process even further. NSF is an accredited Certification Body (CB) for the following GFSI-benchmarked schemes: SQF - Safe Quality Food BRC - British Retail Consortium FSSC Food Safety System Certification GLOBALG.A.P. IFS PrimusGFS CanadaGAP *The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI), an independent nonprofit foundation managed by The Consumer Goods Forum, was founded in 2000.

12 Beyond Organic QAI s Green Leadership QAI is committed to the conservation of our environment. Our pioneering and continued work in the organic industry is just one way to support that commitment. But that is not enough. QAI also maintains numerous energy-saving and waste reduction business practices to lighten our company s imprint on the planet. QAI has earned the prestigious ISO certification as a result of our green practices. The ISO environmental management standards help organizations (a) minimize how their operations negatively affect the environment (i.e. cause adverse changes to air, water or land); (b) comply with applicable laws, regulations, and other environmentally oriented requirements, and (c) continually improve in environmentally-beneficial practices. Quality Assurance International (QAI) 9191 Town Centre Road, Suite 200 San Diego, CA USA qai@qai-inc.com an NSF International Company Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper. Please recycle. LQA