Product Certification

Certification Process

Main steps in our product certification process (for GlobalG.A.P. Scheme) are:

1. Request: the Producer has to complete an Application form in order to provide legal entity, product data and specific scheme information which is necessary for registration in the GlobalG.A.P. database.
2. Contract and Scheduling: Once the proposal is accepted, ICG will contact the Producer to schedule the onsite inspection/audit.
3. Registration: ICG registers the Producer in the GlobalG.A.P. database and communicates the GGN to the Producer.
4. Evaluation: ICG performs the evaluation according to the relevant GLOBAL G.A.P. Checklist. At the end of the evaluation, the inspector/auditor will provide the Producer with a report with information on the percentages of compliance and where appropriate, the non-conformance(s) and/or non-compliance(s) detected during the audit o inspection.
5. Corrective Actions: If the audit/inspection results were not 100% of major obligations and 95% of minor obligations, the Producer takes corrective actions and sends the corresponding evidence within the indicated period by the auditor/inspector. The auditor/inspector reviews the evidence and verifies if they are sufficient and adequate to close the finding. The deadline for closing findings on an initial certification is 28 days. If the Producer does not send corrective actions within 28 days, a status of “open nonconformity” will be applied in the database and the deadline may be extended up to 90 days (this does not apply to re-certifications or scope extensions).
6. Certificate Issuance: If the Producer has complied with the requirements established by GLOBALG.A.P, the findings have been closed, with a compliance percentage of 100% for major obligations and 95% for minion obligations, a conformity certificate is issued. The certificate will be sent and the GLOBALG.A.P database updated, so the producer status appears as “certified”.
7. Failure to Maintain Compliance If the Client fails to maintain compliance with the requirements for Certification, Certification may be suspended or withdrawn at the discretion of International Compliance Group Inc.
8. Extension to the Scope of Registration This may be applied for in the same way as the initial audit, indicating the increased scope of registration being required. Audit will be carried out in the areas not previously audited. If successful, a new certificate indicating the new full scope will be issued by International Compliance Group Inc. There will be a charge for extensions to scope and re-issue of the certificates.
9. Reduction in scope of Certificates issued. International Compliance Group Inc. shall, wherever applicable, reduce the scope of certification if during the time of routine surveillance audits / Re approval or Renewal audits it finds that the certified client has continually / seriously failed to meet the certification requirements for those parts of the scope of certification. The reduction in scope will be approved by the Chairman of the Certification Committee.

Complete Certification Process is available here.