What SOE actually changed
SOE is the most significant update to US organic rules in years, and it was designed to close traceability gaps in imported organic products. Three changes matter most to buyers:
- Every organic import needs a NOPIC. It is a transaction certificate — tied to a specific shipment, quantity and origin — carrying a 21-character identifier, issued before the date of export.
- More of the chain must be certified. Operations that sell, process or package organic products — including importers, and in many cases brokers and handlers who previously fell into exemptions — must now hold organic certification themselves.
- Customs data is linked. The US importer or customs broker enters the NOPIC number into CBP's ACE system, connecting the shipment to its organic certificate at entry.
Why this is a buyer's risk, not just a supplier's
Here is the part that catches brands out: if any link in your chain cannot produce a valid NOPIC, the product cannot be sold as organic — regardless of how it was grown or what the farm's certificate says. You may have paid an organic premium for material you cannot label organic. That risk sits with the party making the organic claim on the finished product: you.
How to check your supply chain in five minutes
- Ask your supplier for their NOP operation ID and confirm the status yourself in the USDA Organic INTEGRITY database — it is public.
- Confirm the certificate scope lists the SKU you are buying, not just the company.
- Ask directly: "Do you operate under SOE and issue a NOPIC for each shipment?" Hesitation is your answer.
- Confirm who the importer of record is and that they are certified organic.
- If you also sell in the EU, ask about the Certificate of Inspection (COI) via TRACES — the EU equivalent mechanism.
Where we stand
New Acai Amazonas LLC is a USDA-NOP certified organic handler — NOP ID 6220008042, certifier Organic Certifiers, Inc. — verifiable in the USDA Organic INTEGRITY database, and an FSVP-compliant US importer. At origin, our organic açaí and acerola are certified to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 by control body ECOCERT SAS (EU code BR-BIO-154). Buying from US inventory means the import compliance — NOPIC included — is already handled before the material reaches you.
Want the full picture?
Our 2026 Sourcing & Compliance Guide covers SOE, EU 2018/848, COI/TRACES and FSVP in one document, with a supplier-qualification checklist you can use on your next RFQ. Or request a quote and we will send the documentation package with it.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Verify current requirements with your certifier and customs broker.