Certficatation Process

Certification Procedures

1. Application

Based on the clients request, icert dispatches an application form, to the applicant together with the appropriate forms to submit a set of specific information:

 

  • Description of production and processing unit,  including measures, sizes, field of production, number of operations, average size of farms, maps, cultivation plan, crops seeking certification, products seeking certification, source of water, livestock, etc.
  • Geographic region and accessibility of operations
  • Description of production and field history
  • Organizational structures
  • Implemented organic management systems
  • List of recipes, etc.
  • Product Flow
  • List of subcontractors and declared produce handling sites together with the description of their measures, procedures, and declaration.

 

The Chief Inspector completes the applicant review process by comparing the information already at hand with known problem areas such as sources of contamination and soil type..etc.

If the information is complete and comprehensive, the chief inspector assigns an inspector for the initial visit, experienced in the requested scope. The client receives from the Adm. & Fin. Officer  the invoice for the annual inspection and certification fees according to the 

fees list , published by icert every year. 

The client has the right to refuse the nominated inspector in writing and without any reasons.  In such a case, icert offers a replacement. A second refusal is not accepted without reasonable or justified arguments. Nevertheless, icert has the right to cancel the contract with the applicant if this happens.

After signature of the contract and payment of the annual registration fees and the suggested inspector is accepted, it is up to the inspector to arrange the inspection date of the initial visit with the applicant.

2. The Initial Visit

During the initial visit, the inspector uses the standard inspection checklists/reports developed by icert to verify the information provided by the operator in his application.  These checklists and reports vary with type of operations (Farm, Firm, Wild area), and with the requested certification scheme (organic ).  The inspector decides on the spot whether to take samples of soil, plants, suspicious materials found on site or not. The initial visit inspection report identifies the existing non- conformists and is countersigned by the operator of farm/firm. The non-conformists should be closed within one month at most; if this happened the inspector signs the inspection report & indicates the date of closing the non-conformities.

corrective actions documents, shall be sent to icert  and are retained in the firm/farm file. This information will be taken into consideration when referring to the farm/firm files during the certification process.

3. Registration for organic scheme

The initial visit inspection report is submitted to the certification committee to take decision during its regular monthly meeting. The certification committee reviews the completeness and plausibility of the information in the initial visit inspection report. In case of approval, the certification committee will determine the farm organic status and the appropriate conversion period according to EC 834/2007 in combination with EC 889/2008 regulation as well as icert Production Standards and Control Measures.  The C.E.O. informs the client about the results of his application by using the form Notification for the registration Request.