Organic Trends indicate the continuously growth of the organic market. However, many ask, how to get organic certification, which is the organic procedure. These questions can be answered with this presentation. For more detailed information contact me at ip@a-cert.org. I will be glad to assist you!

1. A CERT European Organization for
Certification SA (YY-BIO-171)
Organic Certification
Ioannis Papadopoulos, Head of Organic Department
Email: ip@a-cert.org | Tel: +30.2310.320.777 | Mob.: +30.697.911.4562

2. ❑ About A CERT
❑ Organic production
❑ Trends in the Organic Production
❑ SWOT Analysis
❑ Certification Process
❑ Certification Cycle
❑ Certificate of Inspection
Outline

3. A CERT
EU Organic Control System
• 2005: A CERT started operating in the Organic Certification sector
• 2016: A CERT S.A. was recognized by the European Commission as
operating an Equivalent Control System for Organic Production against the
EU Organic Control System.
• A CERT S.A. has been registered in Annex IV of Regulation (EC) No.
1235/2008 for import of organic products produced in 46 countries
outside the European Union.
• Scopes: A & D
• Pending in June, 2021: B, C, E, F

4. • Organic Products according to ISO/IEC
17065:2012
• Quality Management Systems:ISO 9001:2015
according to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015.
• Food Safety Management Systems: ISO 22000:2018
and FSSC 22000 according to ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015.
• Greek Classification of hotels and
accommodation facilities to stars and keys
respectively, according to ISO 17065:2012
A CERT’s Accreditations

5. • ACERTis a member of HellasCert, the Hellenic
Association of Accredited Inspection and
Certification Bodies.
• Member of EOCC,the EUROPEAN ORGANIC
CERTIFIERS COUNCIL,the International Federation
of Organic Agriculture Movements, a strong
network of 750 organizations from 108 countries
promoting organic farming worldwide.
• Founding member of the Organic Products Network
of the Association of Industries of Northern
Greece and member of the Association of Exporters
of Northern Greece(SEVE).
Participations

7. • Organic farming is a way of producing food that respects natural life
cycles. It minimizes the human impact on the environment and operates
as naturally as possible.
• Crop rotation
• Synthetic agrochemicals and GMO are forbidden
• Adapt of disease-resistant plant and animal species
• Livestock are raised in a free-range, open-air environment and are
fed on organic fodder
• Animal husbandry practices are tailored to the various livestock
species
• Promotion of biodiversity and best environmental practices
• Wild Collection does not affect the stability of the natural habitat or
the maintenance of the species in the collection area
• Organic farming is part of an extensive supply chain, which also
includes food processing, distribution and retailing.
Organic production

8. Statistics: Organic Trends

9. The World of Organic Agriculture: 2017

10. Organic agricultural land (EU)

11. European Union: Development of
organic agricultural land 1985-2016
0.10.10.10.20.20.30.40.60.81.01.21.5
2.02.4
3.5
4.4
5.1
5.55.86.0
6.56.87.2
7.7
8.3
9.19.5
10.0
10.2
10.4
11.1
0.0
2.5
5.0
7.5
10.0
12.5
15.0
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016…
Million
hectares
Source: FiBL Survey 2017, based on national data sources and Eurostat
+174 % since

12. European Union: Development of
organic importers 2000-2016
1,296
1,511
1,694
1,970
2,282
2,627 2,608
2,729
2,856
2,986
3,099 3,073 3,147
3,506
3,968
0
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
NO
OF
IMPORTERS
S O U R C E : F I B L - A M I S U R V E Y S 2 0 0 6 - 2 0 1 7 B A S E D O N E U R O S T A T A N D O N N A T I O N A L D A T A S O U R C E S
+200 % since 2007

13. SWOT Analysis

14. SWOT Analysis
STRENGHTS
1. Significant number of consumers
can afford purchasing of high-
quality organic products in the
large EU cities
2. Plant producers with high
developed farming skills
3. Large Wild Areas
4. Easy access in the EU
WEAKNESSES
1. Lack of knowledge of organic
production
2. No official system for organic
production
3. Large group of low-income
population out of the big cities
OPPORTUNITIES
1. EU aims to promote organic products in EU
2. Maximization of the the organic market
3. Training of organic producers and consumers
4. Adaptation of A CERT Certification Standard
5. Enhance export of organic products in the EU
6. Establish an organic production core-team that
will lead the organic production
7. Foster the production of organic inputs
THREATS
1. Competition
2. Contaminations

15. HOW TO START: Certification Cycle

16. Certification Cycle
Application
• Offer
Evaluation
Contract
Verification
before or
after
Contracting
Inspection
Inspection
Review
Certification
Decision
•If positive,
continue!
Certificate!
Getting organic certification, requires to
follow a predesigned certification path,
respecting along the way the EU Organic
rules. A guidance on the certification
procedure is important to keep you on
track.

17. 1. Submit an Application
2. Certification Offer (quoting)
- Accept/Reject
3. Submit your Organic System Plan (OSP)
- Describe your activity
- Describe the measures achieving conformity with A CERT Organic Standard
- Describe the measures to avoid contamination
4. OSP Evaluation and Verification
- Additional information may be requested or corrections in your plan in order to achieve conformity
- The submitted information must be verifiable – hence documentation may be requested (e.g. photos,
layout, flow-charts, certificates of suppliers, etc.)
5. Contract
- The date of the contract indicates your beginning in the Organic World
6. Inspection and Evaluation
7. Certification
- Ones the inspection and its evaluation indicates conformity of your organization with A CERT Organic
Standard, your operation shall get Certified!
Certification Process in a nutshell

18. Adherence to the Control System
The operator shall submit an application
with the organic system plan (OSP) that
includes all the mandatory information.
Evaluation of the OSP and sign a contract.
Verification of the provided information.
Perform an initial inspection providing full
access to the facilities and any other
documentary evidence. Control of the
provided description and the effectiveness of
the activities that eliminates any possible risk.
Produce organic products and keep records
for any clarification. Comply with the Organic
Standard and provide any information
regarding his procedures and the overall
progress.
Certification: Issue a certification and
market organic products with respect to the
EU & A CERT logos including other labeling
information.
Application &
contract
Inspection
Comply with
organic
standard
Organic
products
distribution
01
02
03
04
Exports: Certificates of Inspection (COI)
Submit the COI application with the relevant
documentation. The COI shall be issued
before shipment.

19. ❖ Apply environmentally friendly production practices
❖ Use authorized inputs and substances
❖ Keep your production protected from contaminations (neighboring farmers,
transportation/ storage activities, processing/ handling organic products, etc.)
❖ Plant production: Buffer zones, segregation zones, organic signs at the fields, cleaning your equipment
❖ Processing/Handling: Design your flow chart, identify your critical points (CP) , take adequate measures,
keep records for reference. E.g. CP: (i) Receiving raw materials (RM), (ii) Storage RM, (iii) Processing
(specify the processing steps with the relevant CP), (iv) Packaging-Labelling, (v) Storage of final products,
(vi) Transportation. Examples of measures: Separation by time/space, cleaning, record keeping, etc.
❖ Apply an effective traceability system
❖ Keep records (production, storage, sales, transportation, cleaning, etc.)
❖ Provide access to the production/handling facilities during the inspection
❖ Documentation: provide any important information regarding your activities (e.g.
certificates of suppliers)
❖ Comply with the A CERT Organic Standard (equivalent to Reg. (EC) 834/07 & 889/08)
❖ Obtain a comprehensive knowledge of the Organic Regulatory framework
Operator’s obligations

20. ❖ to meet requirements for certification against
A CERT Organic Standard;
❖ to verify conformance with contractual
requirements (EU Regulations, Local Law, etc);
❖ to obtain and maintain confidence in the
capability of the operator with the production
and handling of organic products;
❖ to contribute to the improvement of the
operator’s management system.
Objectives of the Inspection

21. Inspections & Samples
Control visits
must be based on
the general
evaluation of the
risk of non-
compliance with
the organic
production rules
One physical
inspection of
all operators
per year
Minimum 10% of
all visits shall be
unannounced
every year – Risk
based
Plant
production
operators
Processing
operations,
Distributors
&Importers
Livestock
production
operators
Aquaculture
operators
Samples and
analyses at a
min 5% of
operators per
TC
Additional random
control visits to at
least 10% of
operators – Risk
based

22. Exporting organic products in the EU

23. ❖ The products shall be accompanied with the Certificate of Inspection
during export (COI)
❖ Before any shipment/export, the operator submits the application
for the issuance of the COI.
❖ The COI shall be issued before the shipment. Late applications may lead to
refusal of issuing COIs because the EU obligates the CBs to issue the COIs
only prior to the export.
❖ The Certification Department of A CERT provides assistance in order to issue
the COI in time and evaluates the information provided in the COI
application.
❖ The CB issues the COI and forwards it to the operator.
❖ Physical check: The CB may sample the goods before export as part
of the obligations emanating in the Reg. (EC) 1235/2008. The
selection of the products is based on the Risk Analysis of the
operator, the supply chain and the products in concern.
EXPORTS - TRACES

24. COI template
o COIs are being issued by A CERT
through TRACES
o Operators are able to submit a draft
COI in TRACES, provided information
that will allow its endorsement by A
CERT
o Mandatory documentation:
❖ COI application
❖ Invoice
❖ Bill of lading/ CMR
❖ Production records
o Without COI, the EU Competent
Authorities are not able to clear the
products and thus the products are not
able to be imported

26. Thank you.
Questions:
Email - LinkedIn
www.a-cert.org