Certification Option A3: Group Certification

Option A3 combines Group Certification with elements of the four-year audit cycle.

Similar to Option B Group Certification, producers can be CanadaGAP-certified by organizing themselves as a Group and running a central food safety management system.

This approach was developed based on GLOBALG.A.P.’s group certification scheme (a.k.a. Option 2). If cost considerations are the driver for group certification, it should be noted that this approach, to date, has proven most beneficial to larger groups (e.g., at least 75 producers) where existing resources of the group can be effectively applied and economies of scale achieved.

Essentially, Group Certification offers a two-layered approach to auditing, involving:

i. Use of qualified internal auditors engaged by the Group to audit member sites (i.e., production, storage and packing locations), review member self-declarations and self-assessments, and internally audit the Group Management System, and
ii. External audits of the Group by a licensed certification body.

The Group’s internal audit programme must cover all member sites over a four-year period. Certified members must submit self-declarations and self-assessment checklists to the Group Management in the intervening years. Every three years, the Group must undergo an external (third party) audit of the Group Management System, including sampling of central sites and internally audited members.

Internal audits: Using a qualified internal auditor(s), the Group must carry out audits each year on 25% of registered group members, all central storage and packing facilities, and the Group Management System. The audits of production, storage and packing sites must cover the full CanadaGAP (CHC OFFS) Audit Checklist. New members must pass the audit prior to being entered on the registered list. The audit reports, corrective actions, etc. must be impartially reviewed by the Group Management System Internal Auditor or another qualified person who did not perform the audit of the group member’s operation.

The Group must collect and review the CanadaGAP (CHC OFFS) Self-declaration and Self-assessment checklist submitted by each group member who is not internally audited in a given year.

The Group must engage a qualified Group Management System Internal Auditor to perform an annual internal audit based on using the CHC OFFS Group Management System Checklist. In effect, the Group is charged with acting as if it were a certification body operating with initial certification and surveillance audits of its members’ operations. For further details, refer to the CanadaGAP Management Manual, Appendix III.2.

External audits: Audits of the Group by a licensed Certification Body. The external audit functions must be carried out by a CHC-licensed certification body. Sampling of the group members (i.e., production, storage and packing sites) is permitted to certify the Group under Option A3. All external audits for Option A3 are announced, and are performed by the Certification Body every three years. For further details, refer to the CanadaGAP Management Manual, Appendix III.2.

The specifics as to who is audited and at what minimum frequency, including random sampling plans, are outlined in the table below for “Option A3”. Some cost information is also indicated in the chart.

Option A3 Certification (Group) – Certification Components:

(Note: Certification to Option A3 occurs on a three-year basis. Nothing in the chart below is meant to suggest a four-year certification period. The chart is simply intended to illustrate activities that occur each year over a four-year period.)

* A triggered audit would only be deemed necessary to investigate a potential food safety risk at a particular site. These could be triggered as a follow up to an on-site visit, from the audit of the Group Management System, etc. The cost of triggered audits would be borne by the Group. Participants can avoid triggered audits by managing risks as outlined in the CHC OFFS Manual.

IMPORTANT: You are advised to check with your customer regarding acceptance of various CanadaGAP certification options.

With Option A3, cost savings may be found in terms of a lower Annual Program Enrolment Fee payable to CHC for delivery of program services (on a per-producer basis, as compared to individual certification options). However, in contrast to individual certification options, Option A3 includes the additional cost for the Group itself to deliver the required internal (second party) audits. The cost of administering an internal food safety management system and delivery of internal audits is up to the group, allowing for these costs to be scaled to decisions made relative to internal administration.

Nonetheless, Option A3 participants can expect that costs will be approximately one-third of Option B, the other available CanadaGAP Group Certification Option. Under Option A3, there are fewer external (third party) audits and a lesser frequency of internal (second party) audits by the Group of its members.

Option A3 involves four cost components:

·Annual Program Enrolment Fee

·Internal (Group) Delivery Costs – to manage the system, conduct internal audits, review self-declarations and self-assessments, etc.

·External (third party) Audit Fees

·Auditor Travel Expenses

1) Annual Program Enrolment Fee Paid by the program participant to the CHC. Covers CHC’s costs to administer the program, process enrolment applications, maintain the technical standards and training materials, oversee Certification Bodies, maintain our government recognition status, collect and analyze data, monitor developments in food safety science and media, offer technical support to the Certification Bodies, communicate to program participants, program marketing/education, office overhead, staff and related expenses.

2) Internal (Group) Delivery Costs to manage their internal system, conduct internal audits, review audit reports of Group member farms, follow up on corrective actions, review self-declarations and self-assessments, etc.

3) Audit Costs Paid directly by the program participant to the Certification Body. Covers the Certification Body’s cost to deliver third party audit and certification services including auditor’s time to perform audits, auditor travel time, technical review of audit reports, follow-up on corrective actions, issuing certificates, administration and office overhead, billing functions, etc.

4) Auditor’s Travel Expenses Costs vary depending on location of the facility, closest available auditor, and proximity to other audit sites. Every effort will be made to schedule audits in such a way to minimize auditor travel expenses.