Organic Certification Process in the Philippines

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The Certification Process for Individual Farm or Processor:

  1. Applicant applies for certification
  2. OCCP gives an offer
  3. Applicant fills out forms and signs contract with OCCP
  4. Pre-inspection
  5. Certification Committee assigns inspector
  6. Inspector inspects the farm/processing plant
  7. Inspection report is submitted to Certification Committee
  8. Certification Committee deliberation
  9. Release of certification decision

The Certification Process for Smallholder Group:

  1. Applicant applies for certification
  2. OCCP gives an offer
  3. Applicant fills out forms and signs contract with OCCP
  4. Pre-inspection
  5. Certification Committee assigns inspector
  6. Inspector inspects the operating manual and its implementation and does actual inspection (sampling)
  7. Inspection report is submitted to Certification Committee
  8. Certification Committee deliberation
  9. Release of certification decision

Requirements for Certification Application:

  • Individual Farm Processor

    - Filled out application forms
    - Registration of the organization
    - Crop/Processing production plan
    - Farm maps

  • Group Certification

    - Filled out application forms
    - Operating manual
    - Internal Standard
    - Internal inspection and certification report
    - Farmers' profile
    - Farm map
    - Processing flow chart

Inspection Path:

  • Farm Inspection

- Environment, contamination
- Fields
- Brought in materials
- Production system
- Harvest
- Storage and processing
- Documentation
- Sales

  • Processing Inspection

    - Storage facility
    - Processing
    - Non-contamination
    - Additives and processing aids
    - Documentation
    - Sales and inputs

Duration - from certification to inspection, 3-6 months

Validity of Certification - 18 months

Certification Cost - minimum fee is P15,000.00

Reference: Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (occpphils.org)

 
 

Philippine Organic Agriculture Information Network
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD)
©2006