Theory
Unit I
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