Elements and Performance Criteria
- Investigate and access information sources and support for conversion to organic production
- Contact is established with other organic producers and marketers of organic products.
- Other sources of support and advice, including agricultural extension officers and training programs, are identified and accessed.
- Literature, industry publications and internet sources of information to support decision-making are assessed for usefulness and reliability.
- Certification process requirements are obtained from certification bodies.
- Roles and responsibilities of inspector, certifier and accreditation bodies, including role of AQIS, are investigated.
- Conduct a risk assessment of the site
- Previous land use and chemicals applied on the site are identified and documented.
- Risk assessment for potential on-farm contaminants is undertaken and documented.
- Potential contamination risk from off-farm land use and agricultural practices is assessed.
- Risk management procedures to minimise potential contamination from internal and external sources are incorporated into a certification preparation plan.
- Develop and implement hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) based procedures
- Production processes and activities, and those sections of supply chain under one's control, are identified and documented according to enterprise procedures, certification bodies' requirements and the National Standard for Organic and Biodynamic Produce.
- Quality, organic and statutory product standards to be met are identified, documented and compared to actual standards achieved by product and enterprise.
- Corrective actions or improvements to processes and activities are identified and documented.
- Procedures and processes for monitoring and annual review are developed and implemented.
- Manage customer feedback