Organic Certification
Hi Everyone,
I've been faced with a few issues regarding organic processing.
If a product is purchased in bulk from a manufacturer who is certifying their product as "organic", and then a processor takes the bulk product and repacks it into small containers, should the processor who repacks the item become certified organic, or is it possible to have a designated room with designated utensils, chemicals, procedures, etc for this area and not have to go through the entire organic certification?
Thanks
Weebus
Hello Weebus,
We have a similar situation - kind of. We are a co-man for an organic company. They source only organic goods, and are responsible for the supplier aspect of it, the customer holds the organic certification, however QAI (the organic certifier of choice) audits our facility on behalf of the customer to ensure that the identity is preserved throughout the entire process. This is mandatory for them to obtain the certification
I would think that this type of situation would fit for you also. You would be responsible for the facility, and gmp parts of the audit, also a mass-balance is conducted on site. But like you, we just have designated storage areas and programs in place to ensure identity is preserved while in the facility. (Pest control is a big one because the type of devices and chemicals used is usually where company's fall short)
Hope this helps!
This is a huge help!
Thank you so much for this information.
Weebus
I concur, it's a chain of custody type of audit/certification that needs to be done. I would say something similar to that of MSC or ASC in the seafood industry.
Hello! We have a similar operation here and are certified through MOSA. We are certified as a "Food Handler".
Hi,
Even a service provider needs to be organic certified (be aware different countries different organic certifications). At my company we fill oil / fat into an IBC or drum. We don't own the product, we just provide the service. However we need to make sure the product is organic and more importantly stays organic. Operators need to check if the tankcar they receive is indeed organic. If a product that isn’t organic becomes organic in your factory it will be an official crime. So you want to make sure all the documents are in order.
Please let me know if you need any further information.
Anne