principles of smallholder group certification a central body ensures the compliance of all...
Post on 04-Jan-2016
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Principles of Smallholder Group Certification
• A central body ensures the compliance of all smallholder
• Farmers with organic standards
• Group has a formal InternalControl System (ICS)
• One certification for the group (not for single farmers)
Definition ICS
• IFOAM Definition:
An Internal Control System (ICS) is adocumented quality assurance system that
allows the external certificationbody to delegate the annual inspection
of individual group members to anidentified body/unit within the certified
operator.
Certification of a Smallholder Group
Conditions for Smallholder Group Certification
• Cost of individual certification disproportionally high in relation to sales value.
• Homogenity of members (location, production system, size of holding).
• In principle, only small farmers (by local standards); larger farms can belong to group but must always be inspected externally each year.
• Usually common marketing system
Basic Types of Smallholder Projects
Risk Management
• Risks that may jeopardize the organic quality must be known and taken into account in all internal procedures
• Initial risk assessment has to be done
• All necessary measures must be taken to minimize the risk
The Internal Inspector. Potential conflicts of interest
• The internal inspector is a key position in the ICS. The roles requires technical and social skills.
• A conflict of interest is a situation where the inspector/approval manager`s ability to make an impartial judgement could be perceived to be compromised
• Potential conflicts of interest need to be declared and to be prevented.
Training is very Important, for Farmers and Inspectors
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