Pacific Agricultural Certification Society
3402 32nd Ave. Vernon, BC V1T 2N1 phone 250.558.7927 fax 250.558.7947
Distributor – Packer – Processor Plan
Distributors, Packers (including Re-Packers, Packinghouses & Slaughterhouses), Processors should use this form. Brokers who do not wash, pack or process product should use the Broker Plan, not this form. Definitions are contained in the guide.
Note: if your product is sold in the US or may become an ingredient in an organic product sold in the US, you must complete the NOP Addendum. If shipping into Quebec, be sure to have CAAQ Labeling Approval from PACS. If shipping or you are planning to ship into any other jurisdictions, be sure to contact the PACS for further assistance.
Form instructions: This form can be completed on computer (save this form onto your harddrive before filling it in; to fill in put cursor in grey boxes) or with a black ink pen. Do not use pencil. If you run out of room, attach another file or sheet of paper. Keep a copy of this form for your records. Section marked VO are for the verification officer only.
Enterprise Name / Date (dd /mm/yyyy)Head office mailing address / Location address(es)
Provide directions to company location (attach separate sheet if information cannot fit in this space)
Contact Person(s) (title(s) and name(s) / Tel. / Fax. / Email
Legal Status
Sole Proprietorship Partnership Limited Company
Corporation Cooperative Other-specify / For Office Use Only:
Date reviewed: Reviewed by:
A. CERTIFICATION INFORMATION
1. / List current organic certification by other agencies
Are you planning to keep concurrent certifications? yes no
2. / Have you previously applied for, or been granted organic certification? yes no If yes. Please list certification agency, year of application and outcome of the application.
3. / Are you working with the most current version of the BC Certified Organic Management Standards?
yes no I don’t know
4. / Have you reviewed the 2006 National Standards and Permitted Substances List while filling in this Plan? These materials can be found on the Internet at: http://www.pwgsc.gc.ca/cgsb/on_the_net/organic/index-e.html
yes no
5. / Do you train your staff about the requirements of the BC Certified Organic Management Standards? yes no
Have you started training your staff particularly your key staff about the requirements of the National Standards? yes no
If no, explain how you plan to rectify this situation
6. / Will your company want to use the Canadian organic mark when it is available, if qualified? yes no
VO
only / This Section above is accurate / See narrative for details
B. OVERVIEW OF OPERATIONS
7. / Name of person in charge: / Name of person in charge:
Organic operations / Bookkeeping (accounts)
Production / QC/QA
Plant / Sanitation
Shipping/receiving / Pest Control
8. / In the last 12 months has your operation been visited by any regulatory body or received a consumer complaint in regards to your Organic operations or products? yes no
If yes, explain what happened
9. / Indicate which organic handling categories apply to this facility and your company. (Check all that apply)
Process single-ingredient products Grocery and or Produce Distributor
Process multi-ingredient products Warehouse/Storage Facility
Packer (includes washing) of raw agricultural products Other (please specify):
Pack other’s processed products (includes freezing, heating, cutting, but not blending)
Re-pack of products that are already certified organic (with no added ingredients)
Note: if you are a retailer, brokerage or marketing company contact the PACS office for a different form
10. / Briefly summarize your overall business activities (Most importantly we need to understand what you do or what you plan to do with organic products & with whom you are dealing or with whom you plan to deal, & what you are seeking certification for).
11. / Product List: Submit a separate list of all products (organic and non-organic) that you deal with. This can be the company catalogue or similar document.
Product list included yes no
If no, explain
Note: This is a mandatory submission.
12. / Does the company (or are there plans to in the next year) distribute, process, pack or label the same product in both an organic and non-organic form? yes no
13. / List processes, activities, products for which certification is being requested (use a separate sheet of paper if necessary)
14. / Does your company ever arrange for the harvest of organic crops? yes no
Does your company ever arrange for transport of raw, unpackaged organic crops? yes no
Note: If you are involved with either of these activities PACS will require that you have ensured the organic integrity of the harvest – this would include the cleaning or dedication of harvest and transport equipment and bins or totes. Documentation will be necessary for verification purposes.
15. / Packer Sheet: If you pack (or intend to pack) previously certified organic products, but do not blend ingredients together and add no ingredients or processing aids, submit Packer Sheet along with this Plan. See the DPP Instruction sheet for guidance.
We currently pack organic goods
We intend to pack organic goods within the next 12 months
We do not pack or re-pack organic goods
We have completed the PACS Packer Sheet
Add comments here if necessary
Note: This form is mandatory when applicable
16. / Indicate how your company’s organic products are distributed or sold. (Check all that apply)
Bulk sales to food processors for use in other products
In retail packaging under our own label
In retail packaging under a private label (someone else’s brand name)
In bulk to retailers or food distributors
Direct sales to consumers
Other or explanation:
17. / Does your company have a relationship with other businesses that provides you with another service i.e. grow, produce, process, store, label, market, broker organic products on your behalf? yes no If yes, complete the following:
Company or Farm Name / Service provided (i.e. grow, produce, process, store, label, market, broker) / Commodities (or products) / Certification body of company or farm / Brand Name
(if any) of product sold as
If further space is needed please attach additional page
VO
only / This Section above is accurate / See narrative for details
C. PRODUCT FLOW
18. / Attach an accurate FLOW CHART or a LIST that explains what is done to/with organic product within your facility. Start with receipt of organic products or ingredients, and list/explaineach step including: cleaning, re-packing, processing done, along with equipmentused. Finishwhenfinished goods change custody. If you have several different types of products submit different flow charts for each product or each type of product, as this would make it clearer to PACS about what is being done.
If you wish you may also submit a facility map.
Flow chart is attached. Flow chart is not attached. Explain why:
Note: A flow chart is required for all operations. For some, like re-packers and distributors, it may be quite simple. Application will not proceed without flow chart(s).
Optional facility map is attached
19. / For operations dealing with both organic and non-organic goods, is the organic aspect of the operation handled sufficiently to assure that each organic run is:
(Check all that apply)
separated by place or time from similar operations performed on non-organic products
announced in advance, and appears in the enterprise’s production schedule
tracked by lot codes or numbers
tracked in all recordkeeping systems
this is not applicable as this operation only handle organic goods
20. / Are any goods (non-organic or organic) or containers in your facility treated with a substance (i.e. DPA, quaternary ammonium, fumigants) prohibited in COABC Materials List or not listed in the National Permitted Substance List?
yes no
If yes, explain which materials and how you keep organic products segregated or protected.
VO
only / This Section above is accurate / See narrative for details
D. MARKETING & LABELING
National Standards sections 8.4.2 sets out labeling requirements for products not in retail packaging. Retail labeling requirements vary by percentage of organic ingredient in the product. Refer to Sections 10.3, 10.7.3, 10.7.5, 10.8.
21. / Does your company own the organic products that you market? yes no own some contract market some
22. / Does your company have its own marketing label or brand name for organic products? yes no
If yes, provide name or names of marketing label, or brand name(s):
23. / Private Labeling: Does your company plan to process or custom label for another company? yes no
If yes, complete the table below for those products
Product name (how it appears on the label) / Company for which you do the work / Is contracting company certified organic? / What certification agency is listed on label
Contact the PACS office for more instructions if you are doing private labeling.
24. / Does your company ship organic products in non-retail packaging or containers? yes no
If no, go to next numbered question.
If yes, answer the following:
Are all these outgoing organic products in non-retail packages or containers marked with:
a. the name and address of the person or organization responsible for the production, preparation or distribution of the product? yes no
b the name of the product yes no
c. the organic status of the product yes no
d. information that ensures traceability (e.g. lot number) yes no
If no to any of the above please explain:
25. / Submit labels for each product your company is responsible for any of the following:
· product recipe(s) and/or sourcing ingredient(s)
· labeling
· labels which indicate organic, organically grown, certified organic, organically raised or similar claims.
· labels that show the name Pacific Agricultural Society, PACS, or British Columbia Certified Organic
· labels with any organic claim that has not been approved by another certifier.
· private labels in another companies name: submit copies with the above information or verification of approval by another relevant Certification Agency.
With each label include the following information:
· Is it to be used on product to be sold in the US?
· Is it to be used on product to be sold in Quebec?
· Do you want to use the Canadian Organic Legend on the label?
· If another certifier has already approved the label, provide that information.
Labels attached, along with required information.
Renewing applicant: I have checked PACS label reviews against labels in use and there are no new or changed labels and I am not sending product into any jurisdictions not assessed in last review.
Renewing applicant: I am submitting some of my labels (replacements, new products or jurisdictional changes) and requesting a review.
If labels are not attached explain why not
Note: If there are “private labels” talk to the PACS office for instructions.
VO
only
ly / This Section above is accurate / See narrative for details
E. PACKAGING & TEMPORARY CONTAINERS
National Standards Section 8.3.4: Organic products shall be packaged with materials that prevent commingling, contamination and pest infestation and do not cause a loss of organic integrity. 8.4.2 Organic products sold, labeled or represented as organic, in accordance with this standard, and not in retail packaging shall be transported in a manner that shall prevent contamination or substitution of the content with substances or products not compatible with this standard. Containers used to temporarily store or move products or ingredients to be used in an organic product are also subject to these requirements.
26. / List all packaging materials for organic products:
Bulk / Plastic / Cardboard / Natural fibre
Metal / Foil / Waxed paper / Synthetic fibre
Paper / Glass / Cellulose / Wood
Other:
27. / Are all packaging materials used for organic products food grade?
yes no not sure
If no, or not sure, explain:
28. / Are all packaging materials/containers used in your facility free from synthetic fungicides (including any paint used) and fumigants?
yes no not sure
If no, or not sure, explain:
29. / Are all containers used for carrying or storage of organic products or ingredients within your facility made of impermeable food grade materials?
yes no not sure
If no, or not sure, explain:
30. / If you re-use containers or packaging materials, what measures are in place to ensure the containers/materials will not compromise the integrity of organic products (by non-organic products, sanitation, pest control, or sanitation materials or pest residues)?
31. / Are materials used to clean containers that are used to carry, store or package organic products/ingredients included in the sanitation section of this form? yes no
If not, list them here:
32. / Is packaging recyclable?
yes no some parts are
VO
only / This Section above is accurate / See narrative for details
F. TRANSPORTATION
National Standards section 8.4 requires the owner of the organic product be responsible for protecting organic integrity during transport by physically segregating or protecting organic products from commingling with or substitution of non organic products, contamination from residues of prohibited products and from pests. If you are not the owner of the organic products you must obtain written documentation that the product has been protected during transport.
33. / Does your company: (check all that apply)
Own incoming products/ingredients?
Own outgoing products/integrity?
Receive or ship loose (unpackaged), bulk, organic ingredients or products?
34. / How is organic integrity (prevention of commingling, contamination) kept during transport? Select as many as are appropriate.
All transport vehicles are dedicated to organic (if so, skip to Section G Storage)
Transport company notified of organic handling requirements
Agreement with transport company to handle organic goods according to requirements
Clean truck affidavits come with incoming products
Clean truck affidavits are sent with outgoing products
Transports inspected when products/ingredients received & rejected if not clean
Transport inspected before being loaded & rejected if not clean
All shipping containers (i.e. cases, pallets, shipping container etc.) are clearly identified as organic