Organic Certification of wild-harvest Products

CHOLA shall certify wild harvest products after evaluating the procedures followed in the harvesting and processing methods as per CHOLA’s policy under the overall guidelines given in the NPOP standards.

Procedure for evaluation include selection of site for wild collection, sustainable harvesting methods, handling and packing, labeling, storage and transport, and ensure that there is no contamination of the organic produce by any prohibited substances like chemicals, heavy metals, and bio-contaminants.

The evaluation will also include documentation related to purchase of wild products from the wild produce collectors and the traceability of their production, processing, packing labeling, transportation, and sale.

The CHOLA inspector shall inspect the following to confirm with CHOLA policy and NPOP guidelines for organic products.

• Legal status of the operator
• Overview map of the collection area
• Village maps
• Risk assessment, proximity to urban agricultural lands. industries etc
• Details of harvesting area and harvesting methods and necessary permits
• Training of all stakeholders in sustainable methods of harvesting and organic integrity.
• Name, father’s name, village and code number of wild produce collectors
• Inspection of 5% of the harvest area.
• Materials and methods used for harvesting
• Methods of extraction and processing
• Method of transportation to the collection center and verification of receipts and registers
• Lot number system and tracking and labeling procedure
• Sampling by the operator and the certifier
• Cleaning methods used in the storage area. Action taken to control pest and diseases
• Sales invoices, customer list, transport method and how contamination is avoided with conventional produce
• Name of the certifier of the products and verification of TCs in case of purchase of organically certified ingredients from other operators

After the inspection, the inspector will prepare an inspection report and get the signature of the operator and submit it to CHOLA for further action.

Evaluator in CHOLA will verify whether the inspector has covered all aspects mentioned in the CHOLA policy and submit the evaluation report to the certification officer of CHOLA.

After verifying that there are no pending non-compliances, the operator will be given organic certificate for the wild produce. Certificate is valid for 1 year from the date of inspection. Operator will continue the certification procedure every year to keep up the organic integrity.