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Frequently asked
questions
Certification vs
accreditation?:
There is sometime confusion between
'certification' and 'accreditation'. The main difference is the level in the
hierarchy of the conformity system. Put simply, certification is performed by
certification bodies and involves a review of information and an on-site
inspection or audit of the organic farm or production facility.
Accreditation functions at the 'higher' level and is a verification by an
accreditation body that the certification body is competent to do its work.
If you are an organic farmer, manager of a factory or import organic products
you need to talk to a certification body. View the lists
of IOAS accredited certification bodies.
How
long does the IOAS accreditation process take?:
This depends as much on you as a certification body as it does on us. An
unhurried assessment is likely to take you 12 months from application to
final decision. However if you are well prepared and willing to respond
quickly on corrective acrtions, the process could be completed in 9
months. What
is involved in the assessment?:
Certification bodies complete an application form and submit their
quality system documents guided by an application checklist. The
documentation is reviewed which nornally gives rise to non-conformities
which must be resolved. An on-site visit takes place after which another
period of corrective actions is allowed. Assuming all important issues are
resolved, accreditation can be awarded. What
about surveillance?:
The IOAS conducts annual surveillance through annual reporting but
on-site visits are based on risk. Good performance and demonstration of a
stable quality system allows for on site visits in alternate years. Poor
performance may result in annual on-site visits. The IOAS works on a 4 year
cycle, so full reassessment take place every four years. Can
I apply for more than one accreditation?:
Although we have advocated that IFOAM Accreditation should be sufficient
to demonstrate competence and provide access to all markets, regulatory
authorities have not always agreed. We now offer various accreditations and
have developed a system whereby we can perform multiple assessments
alongside each other and at minimal extra cost. You can indicate what
accreditations you want to apply for on the common application form. Does
IOAS accreditation provide legal approval worldwide?:
Although we continue to work towards the concept of one certification -
one accreditation - all markets, we are not there yet. Most notably, legal
access to the USA and Japan can, for the moment, only be achieved through
direct accreditation by their authorities or via equivalence agreements
awarded by those authorities. More
questions and answers coming soon!
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