1. Why is organic certification needed?

2. Principles of Smallholder Group Certification
A central body ensures the compliance of all smallholder farmers with organic standards
Group has a formal Internal Control System (ICS)
One certification for the group (not for single farmers)

3. Definition ICS
IFOAM Definition:
An Internal Control System (ICS) is a documented quality assurance system that allows the external certification body to delegate the annual inspection of individual group members to an identified body/unit within the certified operator.

4. Certification of a Smallholder Group
Internal Control System
(ICS)
Certifier

5. The Internal Control System
Internal Control System (ICS)
Binding committment of farmers to adhere to organic standard
Internal inspection and field advise for farmers
Internal approval and handling of noncompliances
Documentation of farmer and farm data
Product flow control
Farmers in the organic project

6. Conditions for Smallholder Group Certification
Cost of individual certification disproportionally high in relation to sales value.
Homogenity of members (location, production system, size of holding).
In principle, only small farmers (by local standards); larger farms can belong to group but must always be inspected externally each year.
Usually common marketing system

7. Basic Types of Smallholder Projects
Processor Exporter
operates ICS
Cooperative or Farmers Association operates ICS
Contract Production

8. Some Important Terms
Organic: normally means CERTIFIED according to a certain organic standard
Conventional: not organic = not certified
ICS Operator: Body that organises the ICS, usually this is the farmers cooperative or the contracting processor
ICS Manual: sum of all documents regulating the ICS: procedures, forms, policies, etc.
Noncompliance: always refers to a certain organic standard, e.g. spraying Ambush is a´n act of noncompliance because it violates an organic standard, but spraying copper is acceptable because it is allowed.
Prohibited/unallowed : not permitted according to a certain standard
Approval: approval by ICS according to internal organic standard and procedures
Certification : certification by (external) organic certifier according to regulations or public organic standards

9. ICS Manual
ICS Manual: sum of all documents regulating the ICS: procedures, forms, internal regulation, contracts, etc.
Note: the new IFOAM ICS Guidance Manual is an example for such an ICS manual
All relevant parts of the ICS Manual must be made available in appropriate form to the people who are responsible for implementation of the respective procedure or requirement.
The ICS Manual shall reflect the reality of the ICS, but must also fulfill all relevant minimum requirements. Therefore it needs to be reviewed regularly and changes need to be communicated to the ICS staff.