Can an operation request an audit with a remote component? Which operations are eligible?

A full on-site audit remains the preferred approach for CanadaGAP audits. However:

• brokerage operations are eligible for a fully (100%) remote audit,

and a Certification Body could consider a partially remote audit:

1. When the client has exceptional circumstances such as, for potatoes only, small farms enrolled in a non-GFSI recognized certification option (i.e., CanadaGAP Option A1, A2, or E) where the producer/person responsible for the operation must operate the harvester on the day of the audit and who therefore has limited availability to participate in the audit while the auditor is on-site. Note: potato producers who also have other commodities included in the scope of their certification are not eligible for partially remote audits.
2. When the site cannot be physically accessed by an auditor and the audit cannot be delayed to a later date because the client has a short seasonal window.
3. When the site cannot be physically accessed by an auditor and the client has no other crops/activities that the Certification Body could observe at a later time.

Before requesting a remote auditing method from their Certification Body, operations are encouraged to read CanadaGAP Technical Procedure (TP-09-RM): Use of Remote Auditing Methods.