Principles of Smallholder Group Certification

• A central body ensures the compliance of all smallholder

• Farmers with organic standards

• Group has a formal InternalControl System (ICS)

• One certification for the group (not for single farmers)

Definition ICS

• IFOAM Definition:

An Internal Control System (ICS) is adocumented quality assurance system that

allows the external certificationbody to delegate the annual inspection

of individual group members to anidentified body/unit within the certified

operator.

Certification of a Smallholder Group

Conditions for Smallholder Group Certification

• Cost of individual certification disproportionally high in relation to sales value.

• Homogenity of members (location, production system, size of holding).

• In principle, only small farmers (by local standards); larger farms can belong to group but must always be inspected externally each year.

• Usually common marketing system

Basic Types of Smallholder Projects

Risk Management

• Risks that may jeopardize the organic quality must be known and taken into account in all internal procedures

• Initial risk assessment has to be done

• All necessary measures must be taken to minimize the risk

The Internal Inspector. Potential conflicts of interest

• The internal inspector is a key position in the ICS. The roles requires technical and social skills.

• A conflict of interest is a situation where the inspector/approval manager`s ability to make an impartial judgement could be perceived to be compromised

• Potential conflicts of interest need to be declared and to be prevented.

Training is very Important, for Farmers and Inspectors