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The Certification
Process
I. What is kosher certification?
The OU symbol on your products or services indicates that their kosher
status is being independently monitored by the staff of the Orthodox
Union's Kashruth Division. That symbol is recognized by the kosher
consumer as the sign that your products meet the strictest standards of
kosher.
II. The Application.
Describe your company and its operations. The more we know about you, the
more effectively and speedily we can process your application.
The application includes:
A. Company Profile
Please let us know with whom we will need to communicate. Describe your
objectives, needs and goals.
B. Plant Profile
The maintenance of a kosher program requires the close involvement of
production people. Let us know who is in charge of production, who
orders and receives raw materials, who designs packaging materials, and
who is in charge of marketing and advertising. If the products intended
for certification or those identical to them are made at more than one
facility, we need to know about each production site. Please complete a
Plant Profile for each.
C. Plant Raw Material Listing
If a product is to be considered kosher, all its ingredients need to be
kosher. Kosher sensitive materials may be approved from recognized
sources only. Please identify the manufacturer for each item (the broker
or distributor names may not be adequate). Other factors in the plant
may affect the kosher status of the product. Are release agents kosher?
Are other products on the same processing line kosher? What about other
lines? Therefore, please provide a complete raw material listing for
each facility. Mark with an asterisk (*) those ingredients not
associated with kosher production.
D. Product Approval Request
Tell us about the product(s) for certification. Do you wish to have the
product(s) designated dairy, meat, pareve (neutral) or perhaps for
Passover. The ingredient component list will help us determine if the
product can be kosher and its designation. We'll need brand names. For
Private Labels (i.e., your company's name does not appear on the label)
please provide the distributor's name and particulars.
III. Initial Inspection and Evaluation.
Subsequent to a satisfactory review of your application, your facility
will need to be reviewed by a Senior Field Representative. The OU will
pre-invoice your company for the costs associated with this inspection.
His report will be reviewed by the Rabbinic Kashruth Commission. Pending
their approval we will work to create the contract.
IV. The Contract.
OU kosher certification is a partnership between the OU and the
manufacturer to provide kosher products to the kosher consumer. Like any
reliable partnership, a written agreement outlining the terms and
provisions of the partnership is essential. The contract is a list of
standard clauses, certification fees and special clauses crafted to
specific needs or situations pertaining to your company's kosher program.
The contract also includes two important Schedules.
A. Schedule A
Schedule A is a list of approved ingredients used in your facility.
Generally this schedule is a composite of all raw materials maintained
in the facility. In some circumstances, we will approve non-kosher
materials for non-kosher processes, providing that those do not and
cannot compromise the kosher status of the certified products.
B. Schedule B
Schedule B is the list of finished certified brands and products with
their designations. OU for Pareve. OU-D for Dairy. OU-Meat for Meat.
OU-P for Passover. This document will be reflected in the OU kosher
certificate.
V. Re-Inspection and Certification.
Upon completion of the signed contract and payment of certification fees,
the OU's designated Rabbinic Inspector will review compliance with the
signed agreement. The OU will then issue its kosher certificate, and
kosher production may commence. Your company's certification will be
transferred from the New Company Department to an officially designated
Rabbinic Coordinator on our staff. Your company will be reviewed
periodically by the Rabbinic Inspector.
Our Commitment. We, at the OU, are
committed to servicing the kosher industry in a timely, efficient and
professional manner. We appreciate your comments and welcome any
questions.
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