Steps in Certification

Steps in Certification

    1. Identification of a Suitable Certifier: The producer or farmer makes contact with certifying agency. Certifying agency gives information on standards fees application, inspection, certification and appeal procedures.
    2. Submission of an Application: Submit application along with field history, farm map, record keeping system, etc.
    3. Review of application.
    4. On-farm inspection.
    5. Final review: The outcome of the review may be
      1. Approval for organic certification
      2. Request for additional information
      3. Notification of non-compliance
      4. Denial of certification.
    • If certification is granted, the producer can begin marketing his or her products as organic.
    • The producer is free to use the seal of certifier.
    • Examples of non-compliance may include.
      1. In adequate records of manure application, equipment clearing on-farms where conventional production is also done and compost preparation.
      2. A farm that has had chemicals used on it and is in its 1st or 2nd year of transition to organic production cannot be granted certification because the land must be free from prohibited pesticides and fertilizer for a minimum of three years.
      3. The contract indicating scope, obligation, inspection and certification, sanction and appeals, duration, fee structure is executed. The costs of certification depends on size of farm, type of production system, group of farmers, location of unit, travel time to reach the inspection site and costs for travel, food and accommodation during inspection.
      4. The farm has to undergo inspection at least once a year. Inspectors verify that organic practices such as long-term soil management, buffering between organic farms and neighbouring conventional farms and record keeping are being followed. Processing inspections include review of the facilities of clearing and pest control methods, ingredient transportation and storage and record keeping and audit control. The inspector evaluates the performance of the farm activities with the help of farmers statements and records and by viewing the fields, animals and farm buildings. He can take samples for laboratory testing and may conduct unannounced inspections. The inspector transmits his/her findings to the certification body as a written report.
      5. Final review and certification
        The certification body compares the results of the inspection with the requirements of the organic standards. A certification committee decides whether certification may be granted or not and then the agency issues approval or denial of certificate. The certificate is given for current years harvest only and hence annual certification is required. The operator can request for reconsideration of decisions of denial of certificate if has valid reason.
Last modified: Tuesday, 8 November 2011, 10:06 AM