This report represents the findings of a comprehensive analysis project aimed at evaluating the relative alignment of Organic System Plans (OSPs) with the National Organic Program (NOP) standards. A question item analysis was also conducted as part of the overall data analysis process by examining the structure of individual questions within each OSP and evaluating their alignment to established question-structure best practices in an effort to gauge how accessible individual OSP questions are to the average user. The degree of alignment among OSPs with NOP standards and with each other can inform the application of all elements of organic certification, from OSP template development, OSP completion instructions, OSP review, inspection, and technical review to certification decision making. Understanding variations in OSPs is an essential step in ensuring consistent application of the standards and promoting equity across certifiers, regions, crops, and farmers themselves.
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