NOCNCA-N-009:2011
Implementation Rules for the Certification of Organic Products
Issued on 1st December, 2011 Enforced on 1st March, 2012
Issued by Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People's Republic of China (CNCA)
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Content 1 Purpose and Scope
2 Requirements for Certification Body
3 Requirements for Certification Personnel
4 Certification Norms 5 Certification Procedures 6 Post-Certification Management 7 Recertification 8 Certificates and Certification Marks Management 9 Information Report 10 Certification Fees
Appendix 1: Template of organic products certificate
Appendix 2: Template of conversion to organic product certificate Appendix 3: Template of organic product transaction certificate Appendix 4: Encoding rules for the organic product certificate
Appendix 5: Encoding rules for the organic product certification mark
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1. Purpose and Scope 1.1 Based on the provisions as stipulated in the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation and Regulatory Measures on Organic Product Certification Management, these Rules are formulated for the purposes of regulating certification activities of organic products in China. 1.2 These rules stipulate the basic requirements for certification bodies carrying out organic product certification (hereinafter referred to as “certification body”) on certification procedures and management. 1.3 The activities including certification, production, processing, importation and trade of organic products in China shall comply with these rules.
The certification activities for organic products imported from the economies, which have signed a memorandum or equivalent agreement in organic certification with the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (hereinafter referred to as CNCA), shall comply with the relevant provisions of the memorandum or agreement.
1.4 The certification body, which complies with these rules, shall not be exempt from any obligation and/or liability under the law.
Neither a certification body nor a certified entity that complies with these rules shall be exempt from its legal obligation and/or liability.
2. Requirements for the Certification Body
2.1 A certification body engaged in organic certification activities shall possess the qualifications as described in the Regulations of the People’s Republic of China on Certification and Accreditation as well as the technical competence to undertake organic certification. A certification body engaged in organic certification activities shall be approved by CNCA.
2.2 The certification body shall demonstrate that its organic certification activities and management comply with these rules and the Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies certifying products, processes and services (GB/T 27065) to CNCA within 12 months after obtaining approval from CNCA. Before submitting relevant documents, a certification body may only issue less than five certificates within each scope of certification approved by
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CNCA.
3. Requirements for Certification Body Personnel
3.1 Persons engaged in certification activities should have - Relevant professional education and work experience; - Be trained in organic production, processing, management and sales management, food security and authentication technologies and other areas, - Have the appropriate knowledge and skills. 3.2 Certification inspectors of organic products shall be certified by China Certification and Accreditation Association (CCAA). 3.3 The certification body shall evaluate the competence of its inspectors to ensure the sufficient competences relevant to the scope of certification issued. 4. Certification Norms GB/T 19630 Organic Products
5. Certification Procedures
5.1 Application for certification 5.1.1 The applicant shall:
(1) Acquire a legal person status, which is registered at the State Administration for Industry & Commerce of China or other relevant organizations;
(2) Acquire the administrative license according to relevant regulations (if applicable);
(3) Ensure the product compliance with the requirements of relevant laws, regulations, safety & sanitation standards and other norms of China;
(4) Establish and document a management system of organic production that has been implemented efficiently for more than three months;
(5) Ensure that applied products for certification are listed in the Certification Directory of Organic Products published by CNCA;
(6) not have its certificates revoked by certification body for the first to the fourth reasons listed in section 8.5 over the past five years; and,
(7) not have its certificates revoked by a certification body for the fifth to the eleventh