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Falsely representing products as certified USDA organic violates the law and federal organic regulations. Using fraudulent documents to market, label, or sell non-organic agricultural products as organic is punishable by fines of up to $11,000 for each violation.
Certifying agents and organic operations should continue to guard against these practices and practice caution when purchasing products from suppliers. Anyone suspecting a violation of the regulations can report a complaint to the NOP Compliance and Enforcement Division.
Fraudulent certificates may have been created and used without the knowledge of the operator or the certifying agent named in a certificate. The posting of fraudulent certificates does not necessarily mean that the named operator or certifying agent was involved in illegal activity. If an operation named in a fraudulent certificate is certified, its certifying agent identified in the list of certified operations can provide additional information and verifications to the organic trade.
Fraudulent Certificates Reported to NOP
- Operation name and location: Shree Mahalaxmi Psyllium Pvt Ltd; State Highway, At. & Po. Khali, Siddhpur 384151, North Gujarat, India
- Products listed as certified: All organic products
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: IMO Control (Note: IMO Control has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: No location listed, 14-8-2011
Xi’an Pengtime Corporation (announced March 11, 2013)
- Operation name and location: Xi’an Pengtime Corporation, 36# Gaoxin 6 Road, Xi’an Shaanxi, China
- Products listed as certified: Organic products listed on attachments to the posted certificate
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Ecocert -L'Isle-Jourdain – France (Note: Ecocert has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: Beijing, June 6, 2012
Trading & Manufacturing Co. (announced August 21, 2012)
- Operation name and location: Trading & Manufacturing Co., Randburg, South Africa
- Products listed as certified: Handler (Distributor)
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Quality Assurance International (QAI) (Note: QAI has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: January 12, 2011
Note: Asociación Proyectos Del Pueblo is no longer a certified organic operation since 2009.
- Operation name and location: Asociación Proyectos Del Pueblo Colonia Iberia, Choluteca, Honduras, C.A.
- Products listed as certified: organic Masica nut (Brosimum allicastrum) and Seed (kernel) of Organic cashew (Anacardium occidentalis)
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Mayacert S.A., Guatemala, C.A. (Note: Mayacert has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: May 2010 and June 19, 2010, Guatemala
- Operation name and location: Xi'an YuenSun Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Shaanxi, Xi'an, China
- Products listed as certified: Juice Powder (e.g. Apple Banana, Strawberry, Mango, Blueberry, Raspberry, Pineapple, Cherry, Blackcurrant); Natural Raw Powder (e.g. Pearl Powder, Ginger Powder, Barley Grass Powder, Spirulina Powder, Chlorella Powder, Wheatgrass Powder); Extract powder (e.g. Grape Seed, Milk Thistle, Pine Bark. Saw Palmetto Berry, Pomegranate, Tongkat Ali, Epimedium, Damiana); and Ingredient (e.g. Resveratrol, OPC, Anthocyanin, Yohimbine, Rutin, 5-HTP, Coenzyme QlO).
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: CERES GmbH, Happurg, Germany (Note: CERES has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: Happurg, 25th August, 2011
- Operation name and location: Shanghai Honghao Chemicals Co., Ltd., Pudong Shanghai, China Certificate number: 9035
- Products listed as certified: Barley Grass, Wheat Grass, Oat Grass, Barley Grass Powder, Wheat Grass Powder, and Oat Grass Powder.
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: CERES GmbH, Happurg, Germany (Note: CERES has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: Happurg, Apr. 08, 2011
- Operation name and location: Castillo Group of Companies, Ismir, India
- Products listed as certified: Refined Sugar
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: CERES GmbH, Happurg, Germany (Note: CERES has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: Happurg, 30 September 2010, Expiration: 31, Aug. 2013.
Pure Shea Butter Company (announced July 25, 2012)
- Operation name and location: Pure Shea Butter Company Tamale, Ghana
- Products listed as certified: Cocoa/Cacao butter refined, Shea butter refined, Shea butter unrefined, Vegetable oil/fats
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Ecocert Certification Body, Tunis-Tunisia (Note: Ecocert S.A. has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: November 22, 2010, Tunis- Tunisia
Note: M/s.Parker Biotech Private Limited is no longer a certified organic operation since 2010.
- Operation name and location: M/s.Parker Biotech Private Limited Theni district, Tamil Nadu, India
- Products listed as certified: NEEM Oil, NEEM Leaf (leaf and powder) Coconut Oil
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: LACON Quality Certification (P) Ltd., Kerala, India (Note: LACON has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: January 13, 2012, Thiruvalla, India
Note: Huanan Hengyuan Native Produce Co., Ltd. is no longer a certified organic operation since 2009.
- Operation name and location: Huanan Hengyuan Native Produce Co., Ltd. Huanan County Heilongjiang Province, China
- Products listed as certified: Pine nut kernels, pumpkin seeds and seed kernels, sunflower seeds and seed kernels, walnut meat, white kidney beans, black kidney beans, light speckled kidney beans, purpolle colored kidney beans, red kidney beans, soybeans, been cake powder, flaxseed, buckwheat, corn, yellow broomcorn millet.
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Ecocert SA, L’Isle Jourdain, France (Note: Ecocert SA has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: July 15, 2011, Northeim, Germany
Note: Ningxia Ruby Goji Co., Ltd. is no longer a certified organic operation and is not responsible for this fraudulent certificate.
- Operation name and location: Ningxia Ruby Goji Co., Ltd., Wangyuan Industrial Park, Buildings 7 & 8, Ren He Road, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
- Products listed as certified: fresh goji berry, dried goji berry, preserved goji berry fruit, goji berry powder, organic goji juice, organic goji juice concentrated
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Ecocert SA, L’Isle Jourdain, France (Note: Ecocert SA has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: July 25, 2011, L’Isle Jourdain, France
Note: TIRYAKI AGRO GIDA SAN.VE TIC. A.S. is a certified organic operation and is not responsible for this fraudulent certificate.
- Operation name and location: TIRYAKI AGRO GIDA SAN.VE TIC. A.S., Abdullah Aga Mah. Semsi Efendi Sok., Yagcilar Koshu N. 16,34676, Beylerbeyi, Istanbul, Turkey
- Products listed as certified: Seafoods, Poultry, Fresh Shell Eggs
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets & Food (Note: NHDAMF has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: January 10, 2012
- Operation name and location: Caltex Manufacturing Oil Company, 21 Jalan Melaka, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor 50754, Malaysia
- Products listed as certified: Processed Products
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Colorado Department of Agriculture (Note: Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed that the certificate is fraudulent and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: January 16, 2011; location not specified
Karelia Berries (PDF) (announced Dec. 9, 2011)
- Operation name and location: Karelia Berries LLC; 1 Lazareva Blvd, Kostomuksha; Republic of Kalerie, 186930; Russian Federation
- Products listed as certified: Blueberries, Lingonberries, Cranberries, Gooseberries, Redcurrants, Aronia
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: CERES; Zimmern, Germany (Note: CERES brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: Happurg, 30.08.10
- Operation name and location: Shenzhen Fuyakang Biology and Technology Co., Ltd; Room 1307 Jiniuanshidal Bulding; Heping Road, Longhua Bao'an District, Shenshen, China
- Products listed as certified: Organic Green Coffee, Organic Tea, Organic Hot Chocolate
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: ECOCERT; L'Isle-Jourdain, France (Note: ECOCERT brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: 2010-2-28
Netania Commercial (PDF) (announced Dec. 9, 2011)
- Operation name and location: Netania Commercial; Kilometro 13˝ Ortega, Espaillat, Republica Dominica
- Products listed as certified: Bell Pepper, Tomato
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: BCS; Nurnberg, Germany (Netania Commercial was previously certified organic by BCS for avacados only. Netania's certification with BCS ended in January 2011. BCS brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production).
- Certificate issue location and date: Nurnberg, 21.11.2010
- Operation name and location: Mujezat Al Shifa Foodstuff Co. W.L.L.; P.O. Box 1979, Salmiya 22020 Kuwait
- Products listed as certified: Multiple products, including honey, seeds, teas, and spices (access full list on NOP website)
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Fraudulent certificate is marked with an Organic Food Federation logo
- Certificate issue location and date: September 11, 2008
- Operation name and location: Xuzhou Kanata Foodstuff Co., Ltd.; Room B401, Tai Feng Building, Yellow River Garden, Jiahe Street, Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province, China
- Products listed as certified: Green Sword Beans, Autumn Broccoli, Burdock, Garlic, Onion, Pumpkin, Green Soybeans, Sweet Potato, Carrot, Potato, Ginger, Chili, Green Pepper
- USDA accredited certifying agent and location: Fraudulent certificate is marked with an Organic Crop Improvement Association International, Inc. (OCIA) logo (OCIO brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production)
- Certificate issue location and date: China, October 18, 2011
- Operation name and location: Villa Feed Association, Bamenda, Cameroon, Africa
- Products listed as certified: Sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, cotton seeds, herbs and grains
- Certifying agent and location: Agose Culture (NOTE: This is NOT a legitimate USDA accredited certifying agent.)
- Certificate issue location and date: Vicky Avenue, Cameroon, Africa
- Operation name and location: Xi’an Bosheng Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Room 1104, 11F, Dongxing Building, Jiangong Road, Xi’an, China
- Products listed as certified: Organic Hibiscus Extract Powder, Organic Jasmine Extract Powder, Organic Beet Root Extract Powder
- USDA Accredited Certifying Agent and location: Ecocert SA, L’Isle Jourdain, France (Note: Ecocert SA brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is not responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: Northeim, Germany, Jan. 26, 2012 [sic]
EMN Trading (PDF) (announced March 24, 2011)
- Operation name and location: EMN TRADING LTD, 130 Biccard Street Braamfontein, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Type of operation: Handler (Distributor)
- Product listed as certified: Organic Demerara Sugar
- USDA Accredited Certifying Agent: Quality Assurance International (QAI) (Note: QAI brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: Johannesburg, South Africa, 8 January 2011
- Operation name and location: FUSHAN HENGCHANG TRADE CO., LTD, Zhongshan District, “Dlian” (sic), Liaoning, China
- Products listed as certified: Organic soybean, Organic white melon, Organic buckwheat, Organic millet
- USDA Accredited Certifying Agent and location: Ecocert SA, L’Isle Jourdain, France (Note: Ecocert SA brought the fraudulent certificate to the attention of the NOP and is NOT responsible for its production.)
- Certificate issue location and date: Northeim, Germany, 2010-3-12
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