What is the Common Organic System Plan?
A shared baseline structure for documenting organic practices — developed collaboratively with certifiers, inspectors, producers, and industry partners.
The Common OSP is a standardized, risk-based Organic System Plan designed to bring greater clarity, consistency, and efficiency to organic certification. It establishes a shared baseline structure for documenting organic practices in alignment with USDA National Organic Program (NOP) regulations.
It is not a regulation, not a mandate, and not proprietary software. It is a public OSP framework intended to be used on paper, in PDFs, within certifier systems, or through third-party platforms such as Quick Organics.
By standardizing how organic practices are documented, the Common OSP reduces the time and complexity of certification for producers, gives certifiers cleaner submissions and faster reviews, and provides inspectors a shared reference point for efficient, risk-based oversight.
A consistent question set
Aligned directly with NOP regulations so the same expectations apply everywhere.
A modular, scope-based structure
Organized by crops, livestock, handling and more — answer only what's relevant.
A clearer path to compliance
A logical flow that makes documenting your practices straightforward.
A shared foundation
One structure the entire organic community can build upon together.
What the Common OSP is — and is not
Clear boundaries keep certifier authority and operator choice fully intact.
It is
It is not
How Quick Organics fits inOne possible way to use the Common OSP.
Quick Organics integrates the Common OSP into a digital Certification Assistant that helps operators complete, update, and maintain their OSP more efficiently — with recordkeeping, document storage, workflow support, and compliance prompts.
The Common OSP document itself remains free and public. Subscription fees apply only to optional digital tools such as Quick Organics.
Start a free 12-month trialCertification AssistantWhy the Common OSP matters
Certification works best when expectations are clear, consistent, and grounded in regulation — without shifting authority or adding burden.
Reducing unnecessary burden
Producers often spend dozens of hours on OSPs that vary significantly between certifiers. Less time on documentation means more time on organic practices.
- Time to complete reduced from ~40 to ~10 hours
- Fewer clarification requests and less duplication
- Cleaner submissions and faster reviews for certifiers
Supporting risk-based certification
The USDA's Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) rule emphasizes risk-based oversight. The Common OSP supports that shift directly.
- Aligns questions directly to regulatory requirements
- Standardizes baseline information across operations
- Improves visibility into operational risks
Improving consistency across certifiers
A shared OSP structure helps everyone prepare, train, and understand expectations more clearly — and lowers barriers for producers who change certifiers.
- Inspectors prepare more efficiently
- Certifier staff train more consistently
- No need to recreate an OSP from scratch when switching
Strengthening the organic system
Standardization creates room for shared resources and stronger system integrity — so certifiers can focus on service, not form maintenance.
- Standardized training across agencies
- Shared educational resources
- Improved integrity, reduced administrative overhead
How the Common OSP works
Practical, flexible, and usable across the organic community — regardless of operation size or certification pathway.
Information organized the same way, every time
The Common OSP organizes information by scope, regulatory relevance, and risk considerations — so operators answer only the questions relevant to their operation.
Skip-logic that removes what doesn't apply
Using skip-logic and modular sections, the Common OSP eliminates irrelevant questions, reduces confusion, and improves the accuracy of responses. Whether on paper or digital, the structure stays consistent — giving every producer a tailored experience.
One plan, used by everyone in the process
The same OSP supports producers completing applications, inspectors preparing for inspections, and certifiers reviewing compliance. This shared structure reduces variation and improves communication across the board.
Common OSP FAQs
Quick Organics’ guide to how the Common OSP works in practice.
Put the Common OSP to work.
The Common OSP is free and public. Quick Organics layers digital tools on top to help you achieve and maintain certification.