The original Organic paper that Ernest Otter prepared and presented at the 13th Annual International Federation of Agricultural Movements (IFOAM) conference in Copenhagen Denmark. The concepts of Organic Structural Pest Management are discussed in context of the structural environment, In now the almost 30 years since it presentation, it is the foundation of his new book, Beyond IPM, An Introduction to Organic Structural Pest Management

As a part of any company's Food Safety Plan, internal auditing and inspection activities of the key food safety support programs need to be well planned.

Pest Management is no exception.

But how these verification activities are conducted and documented, as well as the personal safety training that is required for employees responsible for these tasks is essential.

Certified Organic Processing and Handling facilities need to operate under an Organic Handling Plan. A part of this plan must consider what pesticides are to be used in the pest management program. But the question of which pesticides are selected for your company's Approved Chemical Program goes far beyond simply choosing a product that you think will conform to the USDA's National Organic Program's Allow List. What the material is, how it is formulated, how is is to be used, the level of training and experience of the applicator, the maintenance and calibration of the equipment used to apply the materials and your documentation of the approval and application process are all essential elements of a strong, auditable Organic Handling Plan.

It is not just keeping pests out. It is an essential part of your food safety program. 

Open doors and damaged doors are frequently reported in monthly self-inspections as a key deficiency. Keeping doors in good repair so your facility presents well on audit day ... right down to that fateful day that a bird or large rodent enters your facility. Those doors are your number one defense, but a deviation can lead to ...

Identification of pest activity within a food handling or processing facility is a critical reporting method in your pest management plan. Training of employees to understand the importance of these events, and exactly what needs to be done in the event of a sighting must all be documented in policy and training materials.

Risk Assessment is the foundation of modern food safety programs. Assumptions of risk and inattention to unidentified risks must be driven out of food safety programs, and your pest management program is no exception. Many concepts already exist within your food safety program that need to be applied to your pest management plan. This paper discusses these points.