Course

Practical

• Documentation of certification procedures, acquaintance with record keeping, handling, labelling and preparation of farmers IDs for developing
• Visit to certification bodies, certified farms, certified processing and handling operations
• Development of organic system plan for specific production system
• Development of inspection format and checklists for specific production system
• Development of operating procedures on specific aspects
• Risk assessment on organic farms and possible mitigating measures
• Running of audit trails in certified operations
• Mock inspections of different production systems
• Exercise on inspection report/ peer evaluation checklist review and certification decision
• Exercise on methods of yield assessment

Unit I

Theory

National and international regulations on quality assurance and certification

National Programme for Organic Production (NPOP), National Standards for Organic Production (NSOP), USDA NOP Programme and standards, EU Organic standards, Codex Alimentarius, Canada Organic regulation and important differences between NPOP and international standards. FSS Act 2006 for organic food, basic requirements, enforcement, standard operating procedures and verification in value chain

Unit II

ISO systems for quality assurance (ISO 17065, ISO 17011, ISO 19011 etc) and accreditation processes

What is ISO, salient features and functions of ISO, ISO systems for auditing, ISO 17065 for auditing and certification agencies, ISO 19011 Inspection protocols, ISO17011 Accreditation requirements, ISO 17025 Accreditation of quality analysis laboratories. Accreditation procedure and policies under NPOP, Essential requirements and competence for making an organic certification body, Conflict of interest management

Unit III

Types of certification systems (NPOP and PGS), standards and procedures

NPOP – A third party certification systems, Certification bodies operational policies and functions, National standards for crop production, livestock, Aquaculture, Processing and handling and other miscellaneous systems. Tracenet the online data management tool and traceability management

PGS – Participatory Guarantee Systems – Evolution of PGS Systems, Guiding principles, PGS Standards, International scenario on PGS development Procedure for organic guarantee under PGS systems, PGS-India programme, operation of PGS-India programme, institutional structure, PGS-India Data management platform, management of traceability.

Unit IV

On-field management of standard compliance and documentation

Issues for implementation of standards on field such as conversion period, contamination control, fertility management, living condition requirement for livestock, management of integrity in processing and handling, Fundamental policy for inspections, step-by-step inspection protocols, Development of inspection formats and inspection checklists. Documentation requirements such as organic system plan, field operation register, input and cultural practices record, processing record, purchase and sales records and product flow in processing.

Unit V

Individual and grower group certification management

Basic requirements for certification management by (a) Individual producer and (b) Grower/ producer groups. Applicability and types of systems covered

Unit VI

Inspection (under NPOP) and peer review (under PGS) systems

Fundamental principles of inspection, checklists and inspection parameters, general policy frame work

NPOP – Third party inspection procedure, risk assessment, documentation and record keeping review, physical verification of facilities, fields and stables, production facilities, estimated yield/production assessment, tracking the product flow throughout the process, chain of custody. Review of inspection forms and checklists and certification decisions.

PGS-India – Peer review principles, making of peer review committees and peer review checklists, analysis of peer review checklists and certification decisions. Submission of summary sheets to Regional councils and assessment and endorsement of certification decisions.

Unit VII

Certification of crop, livestock, aquaculture and other systems

Standards, their implementation in production systems, measures for contamination control, integrity management, sanitation and hygiene, input evaluation procedures, development of process tracking checklists

Unit VIII

Certification of processing, handling, trading and management of traceability

Standards, their implementation in production/ processing and handling systems, measures for contamination control, integrity management, sanitation and hygiene, packaging and labelling, development of process tracking checklists

Unit IX

Internal control system management in large farmer groups under NPOP

Large farmer groups, essential requirements, internal control systems, development of ICS operating manual, management of ICS, internal inspections, risk assessment, assessment of internal inspections and certification decisions, additional documentation for groups, produce/ output management and sale record management

Unit X

PGS Group development and PGS certification management

Essential requirements for local groups, development of local group operating manuals, requirements of group meetings and trainings, decision making by farmers, operational policies for Regional Councils, developing operating manual for Regional councils, assessment of summary sheets and decisions of local groups, procedure for decision endorsement and certification granting

To provide knowledge on Organic Certification, Standards and Regulations