Such producer groups in developing countries entering group certification have to meet the following requirements:
- the majority of farms do not exceed 20 ha (normally far below that)
- uniform production system
- some kind of formal organizational formation (co-operative, village group etc.) as a functioning and responsible structure
- complete farmer(member) list and data
- contractual agreements with all members on the basic rules of organic production and on cooperation for inspection
- delegation of one or more internal inspectors (as much as possible independent and qualified)
- annual internal inspection of 100% or the farms through the ICS
- complete documentation of internal inspection
- agreement (list) of punishment in case of non-compliance to the rules of production .
- one annual external inspection by an accredited external Certification Body
- full support and logistic cooperation to allow efficient external inspection of approx. 20% of the farmers and evaluation of ICS
An ICS is a documented quality assurance system that allows the external certification body to delegate the annual inspection of individual group members to an identified unit within the certified organization. Generally such ICS is formed after the same model as an accredited certification body, with independent, competent (trained) inspectors, complete documentation and filing system as well as a separate internal decision making body (approval or internal certification committee). The general idea is based on the same standards (ISO 53, 62) and common sense. In some cases the ICS is combined with extension, research and other quality management functions of the producer organization. The internal inspection has to deliver complete data of every producer e.g.
- conversion status (last use of not allowed inputs)
- all used inputs and documentation on such inputs (field records and receipts)
- proper field identification system (field maps which allow the identification of every plot in connection with the name or number of the plot)
- compliance of other organic standard requirements
- inspection and documentation has to cover ALL fields of the farmer as parallel production is not allowed according to the organic regulation standards
