Approval of Organic Inputs

1. Policy on Approval of usage of Off-farm Inputs by the organic growers.

1.1. Definition: Organic Input:
Organic Inputs are substances which are approved as per NPOP organic standards (annexure 1,2 and 4) which are used in the organic crop production, processing, storage and transportation. These inputs include products originating from plant, animal microbial, and mined minerals.

1.2. Scope: This policy aims at evaluating off-farm inputs intended to be used by the operator and providing approval if the substances comply with the Standards.

1.3. Policy: CHOLA shall consider the request of an operator to evaluate and approve the use of various off-farm inputs in organic production if found in compliance with the NPOP standards.

Before considering approval of off-farm inputs, CHOLA shall see whether the operator has exhausted all the resources available 0n-farm in improving the organic quality of his produce.
The evaluation shall be carried out by the evaluator of CHOLA by verifying the technical aspects of the substances, analytical test results and the safety to the environment, target crop, and the health of operator and farm animals.
CHOLA shall advise the operator to improve on-farm resources so that dependence on off-farm resources can be reduced in the long run.
The Off-farm approval shall be issued by the CEO of CHOLA after evaluation by the evaluator.
If a product has been approved by another accredited agency as per NPOP standards, such products shall be allowed to be used as per the conditions and validity of those products.

1.4. Procedures for issue of off-farm approval:

The operator shall apply for off-farm input approval in the prescribed form available with CHOLA at the time of preparation of cropping plan for the year or whenever there is a need arises. At least 30 days before the usage, the application shall reach the CEO. Within two weeks, such requests shall be replied by CHOLA.
During the inspection of the farm, the Inspector shall verify the details about the off-farm inputs planned by the operator and provide in the inspection report. If it is a commercial product, the label claims, validity, approval details by other certifiers etc shall be furnished.
On receipt of the request, the evaluator shall verify the compliance with NPOP and send the recommendation to the CEO. On receipt of the evaluation report the CEO shall send the approval in the prescribed form to the operator. All these e-mail correspondences shall be printed and filed in the operator’s file by the evaluator.

1.5. Annexure to the Application:

Details, samples, test reports, brochures etc., on the proposed off-farm input. Approval of Organic Inputs

2. Policy on approval of commercial organic inputs:

2.1. Definitions: Commercial organic inputs:

Substances manufactured by various agencies and commercial establishments for selling as inputs to operators / processors and handlers of organic products. These inputs include products originating from plants, animals, microbes and mined natural minerals excepting Nitrogen bearing minerals which are highly soluble.

2.2. Scope: This policy aims at evaluating commercially manufactured inputs used for organic production, processing and handling for compliance to the NPOP standards. This shall be done at the request of the manufacturer after paying necessary fee for inspection and approval procedures. This process shall enable only authorized, genuine products are used by organic producers / processors / and handlers and avoid repeated off-farm input approval applications from the operators.

2.3 Policy on approval of commercial organic inputs:

CHOLA shall approve the use of Commercial Inputs in organic agriculture after evaluating the products for its compliance with NPOP Standards.
Commercial inputs include substances of plant, animal, or microbial origin or from mineral sources and other substances which are approved under NPOP (appendix 1,2,&4).
The manufacturing process shall be physical, mechanical, enzymatic, or microbial.
The evaluator of CHOLA shall evaluate the following points:
1. Reasons and necessity of the product for use as off-farm input
2. Whether the collection of raw materials will affect the habitat
3. Whether the materials used in the input are biodegradable,
4. Any toxic effect on non-target organisms
5. Presence of heavy metals or biological contaminants in the raw materials and finished products.
6. Safety of the materials used in manufacture to human health and environment.
7. Analytical report of the product.
8. All information about the product such as, active ingredients, percentage of a.i., additives, inert ingredients, duration of use, quantity recommended, flow chart, raw materials, production process, storage facilities and sanitation are to be thoroughly studied.

The manufacturer’s capability and competence to manufacture the product should be verified as under:
1. Whether management has reputation and due recognition.
2. Whether ISO/HACCP certified.
3. Whether internal audits and documentation are carried out properly.
4. Whether quality manual on organic processing is available.
5. Whether record of complaints kept.

No GMO substances are allowed in inputs used for organic production.
The evaluator shall evaluate the compliance requirements and all the technical details about the product.
On receipt of the recommendation, the Certification committee shall authorize the approval.
The approval shall be given for one year from the date of inspection. The company shall get renewal of the approval every year after due inspection procedures.
The operator shall be required to submit a report to CHOLA, as and when there is a change in the formulation or processing method for due verification and confirm suitability of the product for organic production.
The approval shall be given ‘for use in organic agriculture’. This approval is not to be construed for guaranteeing the product’s efficacy.
The manufacturer of the input can use the logo of CHOLA on the label of its products after giving due declarations as required by CHOLA. The India Organic logo is not permitted on inputs used for organic agriculture.

2.4. Procedure for approval of commercial inputs for organic agriculture:

Application:

The manufacturers who desire to have their products approved by CHOLA shall apply in the prescribed application form to CHOLA.
On receipt of the application, the evaluator shall review the application and see that all the required details are furnished in the application. If not, the applicant shall be asked to provide the missing details. After receiving all the details, the evaluator shall see the feasibility and prepare a quotation for the Inspection and certification charges and submit to CEO.
After verifying the details, the CEO shall send the quotation to the applicant. The applicant shall be asked to pay the estimated amount in advance by DD or by electronic means. The operator will sign an agreement with CHOLA.
On receipt of the advance money, the CEO/Evaluator shall nominate an inspector who is knowledgeable in the inspection of inputs for organic agriculture.

Inspection:

The nominated inspector shall write to the operator about the inspection visit, date, and the details that are required at the time of inspection.
After the confirmation from the operator, the inspector shall proceed for inspection with all the details of the operator’s applications and annexure.
The inspector shall use the Inspection checklist for Production & handling of additional input to organic agriculture during the inspection.
Inspector shall thoroughly check the following:
1. Legal status of the management, organization structure, Licenses required for the manufacture of all the products applied for approval and the validity of licenses.
2. Is the company ISO / HCCP certified, whether documented QMS is available, whether internal audit and documentation are properly done, Is the quality manual available, whether record of complaints maintained.
3. Is the company having responsible persons at every stage of production/process of the products
4. What are the products manufactured by the company and for what purpose all of them are used
5. What are the active ingredients in the products and what is the percentage of a.i. in each product and what are the adjuvant, fillers and other materials used and what is the total production of each product. This should be verified with the relevant records like, stock book pertaining to raw materials, finished products, labels, packing materials etc.
6. The flow chart should be studied and the raw materials/additives that are added at every stage should be checked in the factory to make sure that the substances comply with NPOP standard.
7. The storage area should be inspected to see how raw materials, finished products are stored and documented and how contamination with non-organic/ unapproved products is avoided. The storage records and registers shall be verified to check on the quantities of various materials used for manufacture/process.
8. Details of sanitation of the factory area / storage area shall be checked to see that no unapproved materials are used.
9. Inspector shall check how sampling and test are carried out and how the records are kept on this subject. The sample results shall be checked for consistency in results and for compliance with NPOP standards wherever applicable.
10. The inspector shall draw samples for sending them for analysis after giving written acknowledgement to the person-in-charge.
11. A check shall be done as to the product’s safety to environment, workers health in the factory and if there are any risks, how the management is attempting to reduce such risks.
12. Inspector shall also take a declaration from the manufacturer that no GMO is used in the process and there is no GMO in the raw material/finished products.
After the completion of inspection, the inspector shall conduct an exit interview with the person-in-charge of the operation and give a list of non-compliances that were noticed during the inspection. Such non-compliance list shall be signed by the inspector and factory in-charge. A copy of the report shall be given to the factory manager.
The inspector shall send a detailed inspection report within 1 week after completion of the inspection with all documents collected in the factory, operator’s file, samples etc.

Technical Evaluation:

The inspector shall send the file to the Evaluator along with the check list for checking the need for use of various substances in the production process, whether everything about the products/processes are in compliance with NPOP Standards.
The evaluator shall prepare the evaluation report and send it to the certification committee along with the corrective action report for non-compliances, received from the manufacturer.

Certification:

The certification committee shall review all relevant records and take decision on the issue of approval for use of the products for use in organic agriculture.
The CEO shall issue the approval / rejection as per the decision of the certification committee after collecting all dues.
The certificate shall be issued for a period of one year from the date of inspection.
The operator shall apply for renewal every year as per the procedure mentioned above.
The operator shall inform CHOLA about any change in the ingredients, process or any other information provided to CHOLA as and when such changes are effected.
The operator is permitted to use the CHOLA logo along with the statement “Approved for use in organic agriculture”. The operator shall not use the India Organic logo on the product and product literature and advertisement materials.
CHOLA shall have the right to withdraw the approval if there is a violation of agreement or serious non-compliances with NPOP. After withdrawal of certificate, the company shall be asked to withdraw the products with approval mark from the market forthwith.

Approval of Organic Inputs