Global Certification Society Certification Process
For getting Organic Certification with the Global Certification Society, an Organic Crop Producer is required to follow following 5 steps :
- Registration and submission of Application: First of all, an Organic Crop Producer (Individual Grower) or a Grower Group (A group of small farmers) is required to get registered with Global Certification Society (GCS). For this, on your request we (GCS) shall supply a set of application packet, containing following documents :
- Individual Grower Certification
- GCS Initial Application Form
- GCS Certification Agreement Form
- GCS Field History Form
- GCS Annual Field Plan
- GCS Farm Products Inventory List and Product Estimated Yield
- GCS Organic System Plan (OSP)
- Field Map
- Input list
- Seed list
- Equipment list
- Grower Group Certification
- GCS Initial Application Form
- GCS Certification Agreement Form
- GCS Field History Form
- GCS Annual Field Plan
- GCS Farm Products Inventory List and Product Estimated Yield
- GCS Organic System Plan (OSP)
- Field Map
- Input list
- Seed list
- Equipment list
- Grower Group Questionnaire
- Grower Group Info spreadsheet or similar member listing
- Three-year field history records for all group members (spreadsheet)
- Copy of Internal Control System (ICS) document
- Organizational chart (showing responsible parties and how ICS duties are divided)
- Copy of conflict of interest form used for ICS staff
- Copy of member agreement/contract
- Copy of internal ICS audit report for group members
- Record-keeping templates (field activity records, member and staff training, equipment and transportation cleaning, etc.)
- Location map showing overall group area and production units
- Map(s) of production units showing the locations of individual group members
- Sample farm maps for five members
- Storage layout/maps
You are required to fill up these documents and submit to Global Certification Society.
- Application Review: Once we receive your complete documents, we will review the same on the basis of applicable standards. In case, any incomplete information/non compliance are noticed or any additional information is needed, we will contact you. Once required information is gathered or non compliance is over, an on-site audit is planned on a mutually agreed date and time.
This reviewing of application usually takes about a couple of days based on the information provided by applicant. - Inspection: On the prescribed date a trained Organic Inspector, familiar with your type of operation will reach your operation site (area). The inspector will thoroughly examine each process and documents of your operation for the verification and compliance of required standards. Mean while an exit interview is conducted during which Inspector summarises his findings and asks for any additional information, if required. Inspection normally takes half a day to 3 days depending upon the complexity of operations.
- Secondary Review: After the receipt of the inspector’s report, it is reviewed to evaluate compliance with the applicable standards. During the Secondary Review if more information is required we will contact you. After the receipt of report from the inspector, the Secondary Review generally takes 2-4 days.
- Certification Decision: After completion of the Secondary Review, the file is sent for the final decision where it takes 1-2 weeks. After the final decision is made, you will receive your Organic Certificate along with a covering letter citing the conditions for awarding certificate. The Organic Certificate contains name of your company/group, address, category of certification and list of certified organic product. The entire Certification Process may take about 4-12 weeks depending upon documents and co-operation provided.