Introduction to Certifications

Third-party certification is a process where an independent expert verifies that a product, service, or organization meets specific standards. This involves an assessment, which may include reviewing test evidence, facility inspections, and ongoing audits. The certification ensures that the product, service, or organization meets certain quality, safety, or performance requirements.

• 1. Application and Pre-Assessment:
  • The organization or entity seeking certification applies to a certification body.
  • A pre-assessment may be conducted to evaluate the readiness of the applicant.
• 2. Audit (Documentation and On-Site Review):
  • The certification body reviews the applicant's documentation, such as quality management systems, procedures, and relevant records.
  • An on-site audit is conducted to verify that the applicant's systems and processes comply with the required standards.
  3. Audit Findings and Corrective Actions:
  • Any non-conformances or issues identified during the audit are communicated to the applicant.
  • The applicant takes corrective actions to address these issues.
  • 4. Certification Decision:
  • The certification body makes a decision based on the audit results and corrective actions.
  • If the applicant meets the requirements, a certification is issued.
  • 5. Surveillance Audits (Ongoing):
  • Periodic surveillance audits are conducted to ensure that the certified entity continues to comply with the standards.
  • Participatory Guarantee System
  • Participatory Guarantee Systems are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge exchange