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Home    Becoming Certified    Certification Options

Certification Options

Eligible for benchmark/ recognition: Option Audit Frequency Features Implementation Date 
Canadian Government OFFS Recognition Program

A1

Individual Supplier

· Every 4 years - scheduled audit on-site

· Could also be selected for random audit in Years 2, 3 and 4 of the cycle

· Year 1 on-site audit by 3rd party Certification Body (CB)

· Annually - if not selected for random audit, must complete sworn declaration and self-assessment

· Annually - 3rd party CB reviews declarations & self-assessment

· More affordable to industry while still providing annual oversight

Sept. 1, 2008
A2
Individual Supplier

· Every 4 years - on-site audit (scheduled or random)
· No more than 4 years between on-site audits. If selected for a random audit, scheduled audit date will be extended to four years from the random audit date
· Year 1 is always a scheduled audit by the 3rd party CB 
· Annually - if not selected for random audit, must complete sworn declaration and self-assessment
· Annually - 3rd party CB reviews declarations & self-assessments
New Option for 2010

April 1, 2010
A3
Group Certification
· Annually - Group must internally audit 25% of its member farms
· Over 4 years - Group internally audits all farms
· Annually - Group must internally audit its own Management System and central facilities
· Every 3 years - 3rd party CB audit of Management System, central facilities and sampling of farms
· Annually - Remaining 75% of farms must complete sworn declarations and self-assessments
· Annually - Group must review declarations and self-assessments
· Group must run internal Management System and effectively act as CB for its members
· Group Management System is subject to oversight by 3rd party CB
New Option for 2010

April 1, 2010

GFSI-Recognized *

GlobalGAP **

B

Group Certification

· Annually - Group must internally audit all member farms, central facilities and Management System·   

· Annually - 3rd party CB audit of Group Management System

· Annually - Sampling audits by CB of central facilities and farms

· Group must run its own internal Management System and effectively act as CB for its members (internal costs)

· Group Management System is subject to oversight by 3rd party CB·

· Design of Option B is based on GlobalGAP requirements - a rigorous approach

Sept. 1, 2008
GFSI-Recognized *

GlobalGAP **

Canadian Government
OFFS
Recognition
Program

C

Individual Supplier

Annual 

· On-site audit by 3rd party CB

· Meets international benchmarking
requirements

· Higher cost than Option A due to higher audit frequency

Sept. 1, 2008

 


* The Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) has officially recognized CanadaGAP certification options B and C.

** Benchmarking of CanadaGAP to GlobalGAP has been initiated.