Certificate concept and types
As a result of the implementation of all control methods, a ‘certificate’ is issued showing that the operator and the organic product comply with the legislation.
According to the ‘Turkish Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Farming’ published in the Official Gazette No. 27676, unlike other Regulations, a certificate is also issued for organic input showing its compliance with the organic legislation.
According to Article 37-1 of the Turkish Regulation on the Principles and Implementation of Organic Farming; following the first control to be carried out by the authorized body on the operator with whom the contract is made, if deemed appropriate, an ‘organic farming operator certificate’ and, for products produced in accordance with this Regulation, a ‘product certificate’ shall be issued by the authorized body. Certificates are issued to include at least the information set out in Annex-11 of this Regulation. The organic farming operator certificate and product certificates are recorded by the authorized body in the Organic Farming Information System-OTBİS database established by the Ministry.
According to Article 29, the labels of organic and conversion products must contain the operator or product certificate number.
According to Article 41-1/ç; the authorized body cannot issue a certificate before completing the control process.
In accordance with Article 32; for the ‘product certificate’ issued for products produced in the organic program, if the product is sold gradually in its unprocessed state (generally in organic markets) the control body issues a certificate in the form of a ‘wholesale product certificate’ for the harvested product. In this case, at each sale, the sales quantity is annotated by the operator on the wholesale product certificate copy and signed. In addition, this sales quantity is notified to the authorized body within 7 days. Stock tracking is carried out by the authorized body.
If the sale of the product produced in the organic program, in raw material form and/or processed form, is made to a single buyer, the control body issues a ‘product certificate’ only for the product sold.
In processed products, if the product changes hands but is not subjected to new processing and the label information does not change, a new product certificate is not issued. In the sales of operators engaged in storage, wholesale marketing and distribution to wholesalers and retailers, the product is accompanied by the operator-approved photocopy of the existing product certificate together with the invoice and waybill. The sales document number issued by the operator is written and approved on the certified copy of the product certificate. This sales quantity is notified to the authorized body within fifteen days. Stock tracking is carried out by the authorized body.
If the compliance of imported organic products with the Law and this Regulation is accepted by the authorized body, re-certification is also carried out.
As a result, according to the Turkish Organic Farming Regulation; in addition to the ‘organic farming operator certificate’ issued to the operator for organic farming activities, a ‘product certificate’ appropriate to the purpose is issued for the products produced in the organic program, these are:
product certificate issued for raw material and/or processed products,
wholesale product certificate issued for unprocessed products,
product certificate issued for imported products.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA-NOP) § 205.2 Definitions, certification; is defined as a determination made by a certifying agent that a production or handling operation is in compliance with the Act and USDA-NOP.
According to USDA-NOP, for the operation a ‘certification’ and for sales a ‘transaction certificate’ (in shipments from outside the USA, NOP Import Certificate) are issued. Both certificates are issued electronically in the Organic Integrity Database (OID=Organic Integrity Database).
The NOP import certificate, which was not mandatory before, has become mandatory with Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE).
Regarding organic production and the labeling of organic products, according to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and Council of 30 May 2018;
‘certificate‘; means an electronic document signed by the authorized certifier of the control body providing assurance of compliance with one or more requirements laid down in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and its implementing and delegated Regulations.
According to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 of 19 August 2021 laying down certain rules concerning the certificate issued to operators, groups of operators and exporters in third countries involved in the imports of organic and in-conversion products into the Union and establishing the list of recognised control authorities and control bodies in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council; the certificate issued for Operators, Group of Operators and Exporters in Third Countries,
shall be issued in accordance with the model set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 and
electronically using the Trade Control and Expert System (Trade Control and Expert System=TRACES).
The certificate allows the identification of;
the operator, group of operator or exporter covered by the certificate, including the list of members of a group operator,
the category of products covered by the certificate (A, B, C, D, E, F, G)
the validity period
Please see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/1378/oj/eng
(EU)2021/2306-Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 of 21 October 2021 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the official controls in respect of consignments of organic products and in-conversion products intended for import into the Union and on the certificate of inspection, Article 3; the control body confirming the consignment shall, in accordance with Article 5 of this Regulation, for each consignment before the consignment leaves the third country of export or of origin, issues a certificate of inspection (Certificate of Inspection (COI)) in accordance with the Model and notes set out in the Annex.
COI (Certificate of Inspection): pursuant to Article 3 of Regulation (EU)2021/2306, is a control certificate issued by the control body confirming the consignment, in accordance with Article 5 of the same Regulation, for each consignment before the consignment leaves the third country of export or of origin.
Please see: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_del/2021/2306/oj/eng
The control certificate is issued electronically using the Trade Control and Expert System (Trade Control and Expert System=TRACES) and bears an electronic signature.
The information notes to be sent by the control body to the operators for various situations before the issuance of the product certificate, transaction certificate, control certificate documents to be prepared on a sales basis should be carefully considered by the operator, quick and accurate information flow, cooperation, will ensure the best issuance of certificates and will contribute to the integrity of organic products.