Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
September 22, 2008
The
Centre for Systems Integration
is the first Canadian-owned and operated organic certification
body to be recognized as a Registered Overseas Certifying Body
under the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS). CSI was granted
JAS accreditation on September 8, 2008, following an extensive
on-site audit and review by Japanese officials earlier this
year.
“We’re very pleased to be officially recognized as a Registered
Overseas Certifying Body to offer our clients JAS
certification,” says Jim McCullagh, Executive Director of CSI.
“Now we can inspect and certify organic farms and processing
facilities directly under the JAS law.”
The certification process involves a CSI-recognized organic
inspector visiting a business to inspect their operations
against the submitted organic system plan and check it against
the JAS organic agricultural product standards. The inspector’s
report is reviewed by CSI, and if the operation is in compliance
with JAS, CSI will grant organic certification.
“JAS certification is another advancement in our commitment to
connect our clients to value-added foreign markets,” says
McCullagh, noting that CSI’s current ISO Guide 65 accreditation
by the European authority DAP provides the high level of program
integrity their clients need for reliable access to the European
organic market.
“In anticipation of the new Canadian organic regulations coming
into effect, DAP has undergone a Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) audit to become a foreign Conformity Verification Body
under the Canadian Organic Regime,” says McCullagh. With the
future implementation of the regulations, CFIA and DAP will
enter into a Conformity Verification Body agreement. DAP will
then be able to audit and accredit CSI as a certification body
to certify against the Canadian organic standard.
“Although the Canadian organic regulations will be delayed until
June 2009, we are preparing CSI to help our clients with a
smooth transition,” says McCullagh.
The Centre for Systems Integration, a division of the
Canadian Seed Institute, is a proven service provider of quality
assurance programs in the agriculture sector. CSI is focused on
providing integration of various certification systems and a
linkage into value chains; expertise in the agriculture and food
sector; and timely, efficient, and approachable service. |
|
