revised guidelines for the official accreditation of ocb in the philippines

9/1/2015

1Official Accreditation of OCB DA‐BAFS

Accreditation SectionOrganic Agriculture DivisionBUREAU OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES STANDARDSDepartment of Agriculture

Revised Guidelines for theOFFICIAL ACCREDITATIONof Organic Certifying Bodies


PRESENTATIONAGENDA

Rationale

Enabling Mechanism & Brief History

Objectives of the Department Circular

Scope & Definition of Terms

Official Accreditation Criteria & Process

Grounds for Suspension/Revocation

Handling Complaints and Appeals

Validity of the Official Accreditation Certification

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Use of ‘Organic’ Mark 9

Confidentiality & Impartiality 10

9/1/2015


Rationale

COMPETENCE

Attest the competence of the Organic Certifying Bodies to conduct

certification services.

INTEGRITY

The OCB ensures that the Philippine

National Standards for Organic

Agriculture and other relevant standards

are adhered to by the operators.

SYSTEMATIZED

The guidelines provides the criteria, procedures, relevant provisions on the use of ‘Organic’ Mark, and handling of Complaints and

Appeals.

HARMONIZED

The guidelines was revised in order to accommodate

foreign certifying bodies as well as to harmonized it with the International

Standards.


ENABLING MECHANISM OF OFFICIAL ACCREDITATION

National Organic Agriculture ProgramRelevant Program Component: Institutional Strengthening and Development

DC No. 06 Series of 2015Revised Guidelines for the Official Accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB)

Section 15 of the OAA of 2010BAFPS shall grant official accreditation to OCBs or entities and shall formulate the necessary rules and procedures in the accreditation of organic certifying bodies

Section 17 of the OAA of 2010Only Third Party certified products is allowed to be labeled as organically produced

9/1/2015


Start

AO No. 13 Series of 2003Guidelines in the Accreditation of Certifying Bodies for Standards on Organic Agriculture (OCCP was accredited by this year)

AO No. 07 Series of 2011Amendments to the AO No. 13 Series of 2003 on the Guidelines in the Accreditation of Certifying Bodies (CBS) for Standards on Organic Agriculture (Provisional accreditation: OCCP, NICERT)

Official Accreditation of OCBBy virtue of the NOAB and NAC Resolution, OCCP and NICERT is granted Official Accreditation valid until Dec. 2017 DC No. 06 Series of 2015

Revised Guidelines for the Official Accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB); This DC revises AO No. 13 Series of 2003.

Apr2003

June2015

Mar2011

July2015

Brief History of Accreditation Implementation

Present


DEPARTMENT CIRCULAR No. 06 Series of 2015

Revised Guidelines for the OFFICIAL ACCREDITATION

of Organic Certifying Bodies

9/1/2015


OBJECTIVES

• Establish harmonized protocols in the approval andsurveillance of OCB based on relevant ISO standards and otherapplicable and relevant international standards

• Revise the previous guidelines on the official accreditation ofOCB that would be applicable to both local and international.


Primary and post‐harvest agriculture products of plant origin intended for

food

Unprocessed Plant Produce

Primary and post‐harvest agriculture products of animal origin intended for

food

Live animals / unprocessed animal

produce

Processed and pre‐packaged products intended for food

Processed agricultural and fishery products

for use as foodPrimary and post‐harvest fishery

products intended for food

Aquaculture

Organic materials allowed for organic production: seeds, plant propagation materials, plant

protection and pest management agents, compost & fertilizers, feeds, processing

aids.

Inputs

ScopeThe Circular provides the rules and procedures for the official accreditation of both local and international OCB by the DA-BAFS

9/1/2015


Definition of TermsEstablishing common understanding to avoid misunderstandings

01

02

AccreditationThe Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 done by the Philippine Accreditation Bureau (PAB) of the DTI

Official AccreditationThe BAFS as the competent authority over the OCB formally recognizes the competence of the OCB to conduct certification services.

ApplicantThe body applying for Official Accreditation with the BAFS

Assessment TeamThe team organized by BAFS responsible for the conduct of witness audits

03AppealThe request by the applicant for reconsideration of any adverse decision by the BAFS that may impedes the attainment of Official Accreditation

AuditSystematic and functionally independent examination to determine whether activities and related results comply with the prescribed standards, protocols, rules and regulations, and laws.

04

05

06



07

08

CertificationThe OCB provides written attestation that the PNS for OA is complied by the operator/client.

ComplaintThe expression of dissatisfaction by any person or organization to the officially accredited OCB relating to its activities/operations

Group CertificationCertification of an organized group of producers with central office, similar farming system, working to a common internal control system, which is established and subject to continued surveillance by the central office

InfringementThe encroachment, breach, or violation of law, regulation, or contract.

09ConsultancyThe participation/engagement of OCB or personnel of OCB in activities that involves the designing, manufacturing, installing, maintaining or distributing of a product, process, and/or service certified and to be certified

InspectionThe examination of food or systems for control of foods, raw materials, processing, and distribution, and examination of the production and processing system, in order to verify that they conform to the requirements

10

11

12

9/1/2015



13

14

ISO/IEC 17065:2012Conformity assessment—Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services.

NCOA‐OCBNational Committee for the Official Accreditation of OCB, a multi‐sectoral committee which evaluates and approves the official accreditation of OCB

OAVTTeam of experts and representatives from various DA regulatory agencies and concerned offices organized by DA‐BAFS, responsible for the pre‐registration validation, monitoring of registered organic establishments and port‐market surveillance

OCBOrganic Certifying Body, responsible for verifying that a product sold or labeled as “organic” is produced, processed, prepared, handled and imported according to the PNS for OA and other relevant standards

15OAEPOfficial Accreditation Evaluation Panel, the body responsible for the review and evaluation of the witness audit results and recommendation for approval or denial of application

Organic OperatorAn individual or a business enterprise that is responsible for ensuring that production, processing, manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, retail, trade, importation and/or exportation or organic products meets, and continues to meet the PNS for OA.

16

17

18



19

20

Post‐Market SurveillanceThe activities, after market authorization has been issued, relating to safety and quality monitoring of organic primary and postharvest food and non‐food products.

RevocationThe complete annulment or withdrawal of the granted official accreditation certificate (including the rights and privileges of the OCB to conduct certification services)

SuspensionThe temporary invalidation of the granted official accreditation certificate

SurveillanceThe set of activities including witness and office audits, to monitor the continued fulfillment by the officially accredited OCB of the requirements for official accreditation

21Satellite OfficeAn office in a different island (Luzon, Visayas or Mindanao) from the head office, to serve as a supporting unit of the OCB in the conduct of its operational activities

22

23

9/1/2015


Who can apply? Eligible Entities:

01

02

Private Business Organizations

Cooperatives

Peoples Organizations

Foundations

03 Non‐Government Organizations

Civic‐Religious Organizations

04

05

06


Criteria For Official Accreditation

ISO/IEC 17065:2012Must be accredited to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 with the scope of Organic Agriculture

SEC RegisteredRegistered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as legal entity in the Philippines

Compliant with PNS OAMust comply with the provisions of PNS for OA and other relevant standards, rules, regulations, and laws

Head Office in PHMust have a Head Office in the Philippines and at least 1 satellite office located either in Luzon, Visayas, or Mindanao

9/1/2015


Stages of Official Accreditation Process

Submission of Requirements

Application Review

Assessment (Witness Audits)

Evaluation of the Assessment

Report

Approval of the Official

Accreditation

Surveillance

1 2 3 4 5 6


Documentary Requirements1. Accomplished Application Form2. Organizational Profile3. CTC of SEC Certificate with Articles of Incorporation4. CTC of GIS by SEC5. CTC of ISO 17065 Accreditation Certificate6. CTC of Audited Financial Statements7. List of Inspectors with their approved scope/s8. List of certified organic operators compliant with PNS for OA9. If applicable, list of certified organic operators compliant with other

organic standards10. For International OCB, equivalence assessment of the private

standards against PNS for OA

9/1/2015


Application Review

All application documents will be subjected to verification process including the authenticity of the documents, and the physical presence of the declared office/s.


PREPARATION FOR AUDITAnother set of documentary

requirements must be accomplished and complied with the applicant OCB

CONDUCT OF WITNESS AUDIT

The Assessment Team convened by BAFS will visit the identified farm. And the identified inspector will conduct the

inspection as he/she is being observed by the Assessment Team

CORRECTIVE MEASURESIn the event that the Assessment Team has found nonconformity/ies on the operations of applicant as certifying bodies, they will be required to provide and implement Corrective Actions (CA) and submit Objective Evidences of Implementation

Assessment (Witness Audit)

Follow-up Audit may beconducted to verify theeffective implementationof corrective actions.

9/1/2015


Evaluation of the Assessment Report• An evaluation panel will review

the Assessment Report of the Assessment Team.

• The Evaluation Panel will be different from the Assessment Team.

• The Panel will be coming from the members of the NCOA-OCB.


Approval of theOfficial

Accreditation

9/1/2015


PREPARATION FOR SURVEILLANCEAnother set of documentary

requirements must be accomplished and complied with the applicant OCB

CONDUCT OF SURVEILLANCE

The Assessment Team convened by BAFS will visit the identified farm. And the identified inspector will conduct the

inspection as he/she is being observed by the Assessment Team

CORRECTIVE MEASURESIn the event that the Assessment Team has found nonconformity/ies on the operations of applicant as certifying bodies, they will be required to provide and implement Corrective Actions (CA) and submit Objective Evidences of Implementation

Surveillance (Witness Audit)

Surveillance will be doneevery year within thevalidity of the OfficialAccreditation of the OCB.


Grounds for Suspension/Revocationof Official Accreditation

• Systemic failure of the quality manual or implementation that demonstrates inability to comply with the regulations

• Failure to resolve, successfully or within the prescribed time period, a previously issued noncompliance

• Unjustified refusal of the officially accredited OCB to allow the assessment team to access the premises, facilities, records and personnel, as may be necessary, for the conduct of surveillance

• Engagement in organic production during the lifetime of the official accreditation

• Deviation from the approved Operating Manual of Certification Procedures

• Provision of any kind of consultancy services to clients

9/1/2015


Handling Complaints and AppealsComplaints• For complaints against the OCB must be first

directed to the OCB in question

• The OCB must act on the complaint within 15 days.

• If the complainant is dissatisfied with the handling of OCB, the complaint may be lodge to BAFS.

• The BAFS shall investigate the complaint and if found substantial, the NCOA-OCB will decide on the matter.

Appeals• When an application has been denied by BAFS

after following the process of official accreditation, the applicant may appeal for reconsideration within 15 working days.

• The NCOA-OCB and the BAFS shall determine the acceptability of the remedial actions.

• When an officially accredited OCB has been suspended/revoked by BAFS after due process, the OCB may appeal for reconsideration within 30 working days

• The NCOA-OCB and the BAFS shall accept or deny within 15 working days upon receipt of the request, on the ground of the report and supporting documentation submitted


Validity of Official Accreditation Certificate• The validity of the Official

Accreditation coincides with the validity of the OCB’s accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065:2012.

• The Accreditation to ISO/IEC 17065:2012 is usually valid for five (5) years.

9/1/2015


Use of ‘ORGANIC’ Mark

Issued by the BAFS and should always accompany the logo of the OCB together with the Official Accreditation Number. May appear only on the:

Organic Certificate Issuances

Packaging and Labeling of Certified Organic Products

Certified Product Documentation (e.g. Technical Specifications & Catalogues pages)

Official “Organic” Mark


Confidentiality and Impartiality• All personnel involved in the Official

Accreditation of OCB must adhere to the principles of confidentiality and impartiality

• Information on production practices, ingredients, customer list, complaint log, etc., submitted by applicants shall not be released in any form to any party or to the public in general without written permission from the applicant or officially accredited OCB.

• Information may be released:• Name, address, and contact details of the applicant• Date of approval and effectivity of the Official

Accreditation

9/1/2015


Officially Accredited OCB


OCB’s Contact Details

ROBERTO P. GASPARILLO, JR.General Manager

3/F Provincial Capitol Building, GatuslaoStreet, Bacolod City 6100, Negros Occidental

+(6334) 433 2174

[email protected]

www.nicert.org

NICERT OCCP

LEILANI RAMONA K. LIMPINExecutive Director

Unit 211, Eagle Court Condominium, No. 26, Matalino, Brgy. Central 1100, Quezon City, Philippines

+(632) 332 6728 ; 695 3496

[email protected]

www.occpphils.org

9/1/2015


Accreditation SectionOrganic Agriculture Division, BAFS

Jerson BontogonScience Research Specialist I

Ysabel de la CruzSenior Science Research Specialist

Junie LimsanScience Research Specialist II


THANK YOU FOR LISTENING!Time for Discussion & Questions

Facebook.com/da.bafs http://www.bafs.da.gov.ph +632.455.0031

revised guidelines for the official accreditation of ocb in the philippines

Documents