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Steidle, M and Alonso, N (2005) Requirements for certification bodies- situation and scope for harmonisation: Draft of discussion paper for the 5th meeting (Hammamet)of the internationalal task force, 2nd draft October 2005
Report, Commissoned by the International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture
Organic Services
Document:
Abstract
Online at http://r0.unctad.org/trade_env/itf-organic/meetings/itf5/ITF%20Cert%20Requir%20Paper%20051019.pdf
This document analyses the main similarities and differences of regulations with regard to requirements applicable for organic certification as well as for bodies performing inspection. The analysis includes the EU regulation EEC 2092/91, the National Organic Programme of the USA (NOP), JAS requirements (Japan), requirements provided in the Codex Alimentarius and finally the private sector requirements of the IFOAM Accreditation Criteria (IAC). ISO Guide 65, providing for general requirements for bodies operating product certification systems, was taken as the main reference document as it is referred to in almost all of the regulations.
Keywords: certification body requirments, accreditation
Relevance to our study:
The document is relevant because it provides a summary of the certification and accrediation requirements of ISO 65 and compares these with the several organic sector body regulation that have international importance, including the EU Regulation 2092/91.
ISO 65 deals with organisation of the certification body enterprise, impartiality and confidentiality, contracting, the investigation and evaluation process and the certification decision, but without describing in detail how certification has to be conducted. The word product is considered to include service and process certification making ISO 65 applicable to organic certification, although specifications for process type certifications are limited.
The EU –Regulation 2092/91 details inspection requirements in articles 8 and 9, using the term inspection in the same way as other documents refer to certification. They include provision for the approval of private inspection bodies (CBs) by the competent authority. Article 9 makes reference to bodies having to fulfil ISO 65 criteria but formal accreditation was not required. The document provides a table summarising the requirements of ISO 65 and 2092/91 on page 11 to 15. This could be summarised an expanded to include a comparison with EC Regulation 834/2007.
Relevancy on a scale from 1 to 5 = 5
Review status: Finished
Review started on 2009–07–02
Reviewed by Susanne Padel
Comments:
