Library · Business, energy & compliance
Compliance Readiness.
Compliance Readiness Checker
Self-assess your readiness before the inspector arrives. Identify gaps in your records.
What this is
This is a self-assessment, not an audit. Going through the checklist for your applicable regime helps surface gaps in your records, processes, and documentation before a real inspector visits. Most failed audits aren't about doing things wrong — they're about documentation not matching practice.
The specific items vary by regime, but the high-level themes repeat across all of them:
- Know your inputs (what you're applying, when, where, why) — and have records to prove it
- Know your outputs (what you harvest, when, where, in what quantity) — with consistent lot numbering
- Know what you'd do if something went wrong (recall procedures, contamination response, escalation)
- Know who has done what (training records, application records, who handled what lot)
Regime overview
| Regime | Authority | Audience | Typical audit cycle |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA NOP (Organic) | USDA AMS via accredited certifiers | Organic-certified farms | Annual + transitional reviews |
| FSMA 204 (Food Traceability) | FDA | Producers of foods on the FTL | Per inspection (no fixed cycle); compliance date mid-2028 |
| METRC | State cannabis regulators | Licensed cannabis operators | Continuous (real-time event reporting) |
| GlobalG.A.P. | Private body, accredited international | Produce exported internationally | Annual |
| Real Organic Project | Private peer-reviewed | Soil-based US growers | Annual + soil-based-only verification |
When to seek professional help
This self-assessment helps surface gaps. For actual certification or audit response, you'll want:
- An accredited certifier (NOP) — choose from the USDA-accredited list
- A FSMA-trained advisor (PCQI or similar) for FSMA 204 prep
- State cannabis compliance counsel — laws change; specialized lawyers help
- An OAT Enterprise tier subscription if you want event-log-driven audit packets generated automatically
Free under CC BY 4.0. Cite as "OAT Compliance Readiness Checker (openagriculturetechnology.com)". Self-assessment; not a substitute for certified audit.