History of OMRI

The Organic Materials Review Institute was founded in 1996 to evaluate materials. Prior to OMRI, there were over 40 certifiers who were certifying to various state and private standards. With the impending implementation of the National Organic Program (NOP) rule, the United States was expected to establish a single standard for organic production. Inputs evaluated by these programs created confusion where the standards differed and redundancy where the standards were the same.

OMRI was established to fulfill a needed role to bring the different certifiers together in anticipation of the NOP standards and provide suppliers a clear set of standards and policies to evaluate their products for compliance with organic standards.

Because California was the largest producer and consumer of organic food and because of the diversity of California agriculture, a program developed by California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) in cooperation with Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (Tilth) in the early 1990s was seen by many as the most advanced system to evaluate inputs. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) saw the development of a single clearinghouse for input review and materials evaluation as an important step towards implementing a uniform standard. The largest organic certifier at the time, the Organic Crop Improvement Association (OCIA) saw input evaluation as a drain on resources and also agreed to work on the creation of an independent third-party organization to review materials and processes suitable for organic production and handling. The Northeast Organic Farmers Association of New Jersey and Florida Organic Growers were among the first certifiers to subscribe, thus establishing OMRI as a national organization.

Charter Board members and officers included Bill Wolf, President; Peter Murray, Vice President; Kim Burton (later Dietz), Secretary; Yvonne Frost, Treasurer; and Zea Sonnabend, Review Panel Chair. The organizational structure was modeled on Underwriters’ Laboratory where a balance of stakeholder interests and separation of governance and expert functions are designed to ensure competent and transparent decisionmaking, avoid conflicts of interest and prevent industry capture. The OMRI Board was selected to represent all the stakeholders identified in input review. The largest number—more than a quarter and up to half—is to be comprised of certifiers. Suppliers were given a stake, but were not permitted to exceed a quarter of the Board. Farmers, processors and the trade also get seats, with the Organic Trade Association appointing an outside Board member. At least two members are supposed to represent the public interest, consumers, and the environment. Finally, the National Organic Program may serve ex officio.

With financial backing from CCOF, Tilth, OCIA, OTA, the Organic Farming Research Foundation, the Association for Regional Agriculture Building Local Economy, Newman’s Own Organics, Whole Foods Market, Smuckers Quality Beverages, and the Humane Society of the United States, in addition to many smaller donors, OMRI began operation in June 1997. Brian Baker, who previously ran CCOF’s materials review program, was the first person hired. Lynn Coody served as the first Policy Director.

OMRI appointed respected experts in organic farming and food from agriculture, industry, academia, and the public interest sphere to the Advisory Council (AC). The experts relied upon by leading certifiers and former National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) members were recruited based on their experience and first-hand knowledge of organic standards. OMRI published its first OMRI Generic Materials List in 1998 based on the AC’s expert advice.

Once the standards and policies were set, OMRI began accepting applications to review products. OMRI appointed certifiers' most trusted experts to serve on the Review Panel. Certifiers and the industry responded immediately by channeling applications to OMRI. OMRI certified the first OMRI Listed® products in 1998. The first OMRI Products List (then the OMRI Brand Name Products List) was published in March of that year.

The certifiers of the majority of certified organic operations in the US were soon subscribers. Recognizing products evaluated by OMRI allowed certifiers to free up resources and saved suppliers time and money that multiple reviews required. Producers and handlers benefited from having a list of products that were third-party reviewed widely accepted by certifiers.

OMRI received a contract from USDA as the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) for the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) in 1999. OMRI’s Advisory Council served as the TAP until 2002. OMRI grew steadily following the implementation of the NOP rule in 2002. The AC continued to help the USDA, NOSB and certifiers forge consensus about the standards and interpretation of the NOP rule. OMRI also went through a groundbreaking process of receiving official recognition from the USDA for its unique service. And, in 2008, OMRI received ISO 65 accreditation from the USDA and the National Organic Program (NOP) officially permitted certifiers to contract with OMRI to perform reviews of commercial products for organic use.