Organic Standards & Certification Ong Kung Wai Grolink Ong Kung Wai 1
Organic Certification Process and general requirements Application (document submission & fees) Compliance audit / Inspection Certification, Conditions / Corrective actions Annual renewal Standards & Applicable requirements Organisation & Production set up Process and Production method Documentation & Quality control system Social and Environmental policy Ong Kung Wai 2
Standards & Applicable requirements Organisation & Production set up single or group (group certification) incompatible activity (GMO products) location (contamination, land rights issue) Process and Production Method Operators (and related sub-contractors) are subject to a performance compliance audit with respect to applicable standards. Farm/Plantation production - seeds; fertility management (rotation; inputs); pest & disease; water; contamination Storage, Transport and Handling Processing method (ingredients, additives & aids) and Packaging Ong Kung Wai 3
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Organisation Legal entity; contact address; contact person Description & extend of business operations Size and type of organization; nature and extend of business; structure & management. Include an organisation flow chart Nature of production and processing Number of units involved Size/area of operation Operating volume and turnover Supply & marketing channels Ong Kung Wai 4
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Farm Production Unit General description of unit(s) Including location and site map with field identification & size (simple drawing is OK) Ownership of farm Total size; number of fields & field sizes (organic & conventional) Land topography & Soil condition Water sources Production history Historical and potential external contamination. Ong Kung Wai 5
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Farm Production General description of production (organic & conventional) Type of crop/animal Soil & Fertility management practices Crop cultivation practices Pest & disease management Post harvest handling, etc. Inputs used List type, amount used and application (organic & conventional) Management Contracts Production manual/guide or policy Records keeping (separate records for organic & conventional) Ong Kung Wai 6
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Processing Unit General description of unit(s) Include facility map(s) with rooms/section & machinery identification (simple drawing is OK) Ownership of unit Size; number of sub units & functions Production history Historical and potential contamination. Ong Kung Wai 7
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Processing Unit General description of Processing (organic) Include a processing flow chart Type of processing (describe methods) and outputs (products) Raw material supply (indicate sources) and handling Processing aids and additives Cleaning practices (cleaning agents used) Storage & packing Pest & disease management Inputs used (additives and processing aids) List type, amount used and purpose Management Contracts Processing manual/guide or policy Records keeping (separate records for organic & conventional) Ong Kung Wai 8
Standards & Applicable requirements Documentation and record keeping Sales and Stock/Inventory management General description of sales & stock/inventory management Responsible person Ability to identify and generate separate reports (sales and purchases of organic/conventional products) Others Use of certification mark Instructions and condition for the use of the mark in labelling. Other contractual obligations E.g. payment, notification of changes or non-compliance. Ong Kung Wai 9
Compliance audit / Inspection generally carried out through the following manner: - documentation review and audit, - site inspections (announced and unannounced), - sample testing (case by case, on a needs basis), and - interviews (management, workers, suppliers) Extend all related aspects of the operation, including contracted or sub-contracted operators supplying material or performing functions, related to the composition of the end product (actual audit of sub-contractors is dependent on the nature of their involvement, the risk of contamination or non-compliance. Ong Kung Wai 10
Certification, conditions / corrective actions certification without conditions certification with conditions certification denied Renewal Annual submission Ong Kung Wai 11
Type of Operator What Certification? Type of Product Market Target Market Regulation Market (buyer) Preference Local Development Service & Cost Market Access National Regulations -Domestic & Export Private label requirements -Domestic & Export Ong Kung Wai 12
Government Regulations The Game Scenario Chain of custody (operators) Local Producer Consumers Local Producer (ingredient) Foreign Producer (ingredient) Foreign Processor Local Processor Retailer Processor /Retail Consumers Consumers Consumers Local / Foreign CERTIFIER Local / Foreign CERTIFIER Local / Foreign CERTIFIER Ong Kung Wai 13
Certification & Options in Asia The Play 1. Operator_Producer Choice of which CB(s) to use for certification must comply to domestic regulations (where applicable); must comply to export market regulations (where applicable) must consider domestic/export market preference must comply to own CB & buyer's CB's requirements 2. Operator_Processor (buyer/exporter) Choice of which CB(s) to use for certification must comply to domestic regulations (where applicable); must comply to export market regulations (where applicable) must consider domestic/export market preference must comply to chosen CB s (& buyer's CB) requirements *EU importer (can apply for importer's derogation) 3. Market (Trade / Consumers) Choice of product characteristic and certification profile Ong Kung Wai 14
Certification & Options in Asia The Game keepers 4. Regulations & competent authorities Authorisation (approval / acceptance) Import rules (country to country recognition/agreement) 5. Accreditors Accreditation - acceptance of certification (products & operators) 6. Certifiers (local / foreign) Regulatory recognition/acceptance/approval Market profile Private level recognition (acceptance of certification) Inspection agent; carry out inspections for other certification bodies to regulations as well as private standards (where applicable). Ong Kung Wai 15
Certification & Options in Asia 56 countries have implemented, finalised or initiated the drafting of organic regulations. (Feb. 2002) Ong Kung Wai 16
Certification & Options in Asia The Domestic scene (Asia) No regulation (Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh) Regulation (Japan, India; China [Hong Kong]; Korea; Taiwan) No strong market demand for certification Strong market demand for certification - dominant private seals? Ong Kung Wai 17
Certification & Options in Asia The Export Scene EU No Asian country on the EU approved third country list Only option is through the importer s derogation Most EU importers prefer use of an EU based certification body - final certification for their EU markets - prove certification is done to EU regulations to state authority. The EU regulations however do not disqualify the use of local certifiers in third countries. Certification by non-eu based certification bodies is possible and do occur. Although not officially recognised, IFOAM Accreditation is taken into account by EU member states competent authorities to assess the competence of the certification organisation in issuing import authorisations. Ong Kung Wai 18
Certification & Options in Asia The Export Scene USA No Asian country with mutual recognition agreement with the USA Only option is through an USDA accredited certifier May use local non-usda accredited certifer for inspection if they are working as inspection agent for a USDA accredited certifier Japan No Asian country with mutual recognition agreement with Japan Only option through a MAFF registered certifier (in Japan or Foreign based) - direct certification - re-certification Ong Kung Wai 19
Certification & Options in Asia Private seals Besides regulatory requirements, there is also market preference for more established private organic seals. Depending on the market location, different private seals are preferred. This reflects the private certification bodies respective home bases. Retailers and processors (trade buyers) generally prefer the dominant private seal of their respective markets, e.g. KRAV in Sweden. It should be noted that at the market level, certification even by government bodies may be not accepted by some private seal organisations. Private standards are generally more demanding than regulatory requirements, although the product is legally organic, they may be deemed to not have fully conformed to private standards for use of the private seal. Ong Kung Wai 20
Certification & Options in Asia Exporting from Asia Operator s certification has to meet regulatory requirements and buyers preference of private seals (where applicable). No one certification acceptable for all markets worldwide. Exporters may have to have more than one certification. May be possible to facilitate market access and acceptance through re-certification based on the inspection report, by a credible certification body. Summary of choice Certifier(s) with regulatory approval & presence in target markets Credibility with the trade and certification industry, i.e. leading certification body in its home base and IFOAM Accreditation. Cost of certification and inspection including use of local/regional inspectors. Ong Kung Wai 21
Certification & Options in Asia Cost of service Cost of certification varies according to the certification body, both in the categories of chargeable fees and their respective amounts. 3 general main categories, i.e. Application and associated certification fees Inspection costs (inspection fee, travel, board & lodging) Licensing fee or Levy based on sales of certified products use of local/regional inspectors will mitigate cost Ong Kung Wai 22