2017 Checklist
for the Inspection of Smallholder Groups
Applying for Simplified Bio Suisse Certification
Name of the group / project:
Person(s) in charge:
Address:
Postal code, town, province:
Country:
Tel.:
E-mail:
No. of members total:
No. of organic members:
No. of members applying for Bio Suisse
certification:
The smallholder group has been inspected and
certified since (year):
Inspection body:
Date of most recent external inspection:
Product(s) for which Bio Suisse certification is
being sought:
Contracting export company:
Contracting Swiss import company:
Note: Only the following crops may be requested for simplified certification:
tropical fruits, nuts, spices, medicinal plants, herbs, coffee, cacao, quinoa, amaranth, sesame,
rice, sugarcane
1. GENERAL REMARKS AND CONDITIONS IMPOSED BY ICB IN THE
PREVIOUS YEAR
Yes
No
This is an initial application for certification.
ICB imposed conditions in the previous year.
The conditions imposed by ICB in the previous year have been met.
Explain in detail:
2. DEFINITIONS
Yes
No
The smallholder group applying for simplified Bio Suisse certification has common
structures (e.g., the same marketing organization / advisory service).
The agricultural land of the group applying for simplified Bio Suisse certification is
cultivated by smallholders that accomplish ALL FOUR FOLLOWING REQUIREMETS
at the same time:.
1. at least 50% of the group members cultivate 0-5 ha of agricultural land
2. at least 70% of the group members cultivate 0-10 ha of agricultural land
3. at least 95% of the group members cultivate less than 25 ha of
agricultural land
4. the yield of group members that cultivate more than 25 ha of
agricultural land does not exceed 25% of the total yield of the group
applying for simplified Bio Suisse certification; otherwise, these farming
operations must be inspected as individual farming operations.
All cash crops (except plots for subsistence farming) cultivated by the smallholders in
the group applying for simplified Bio Suisse certification are organically farmed and
inspected. Animal husbandry (except for subsistence) is inspected and meets at least
the Bio Suisse Basic Requirements.
The group is composed only by farmers who haven’t cleared primary/secondary
forests or otherwise transformed high conservation value areas into agricultural
production areas after 1994.
If one or more of the last four statements were answered with NO, only a selection of members within
the smallholder group can apply for simplified certification. A list of these selected members that do
comply with all requirements must be attached.
If a selection has to be done, answer the following question:
Yes
No
Separation in harvest, processing and trade and full traceability of the products of the
selected members is guaranteed.
Comments by the inspection body:
3. CONDITIONING / PACKAGING / PROCESSING OF THE GROUP’S
PRODUCTS
Yes
No
n/a
Products are prepared, packaged, and/or processed by the smallholder
group.
If yes, list products and enclose recipes and descriptions of processing
and/or packaging methods (including flowcharts).
Products from other groups / farming operations are bought/sold and/or
prepared, packaged, processed by the smallholder group.
If yes, the ICB checklist “Processing and Trade” must be completed.
(http://www.icbag.ch/index.php/en/documents-and-downloads/formulare-eng)
Checklist 2017 for Inspection of Smallholder Groups Applying for Simplified Bio Suisse Certification
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Products are prepared, packaged and/or processed by a contractor (third
party preparation, packaging, processing).
If yes, the ICB checklist “Processing and Trade” must be completed for
the contractor. (http://www.icbag.ch/index.php/en/documents-anddownloads/formulare-eng)
The products are sold to an external firm that carries out preparation,
packaging and/or processing prior to their export to Switzerland.
If yes, give the name of the firm that carries out preparation, packaging
and/or processing.
This firm must also have Bio Suisse certification; please submit an
application.
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4. DECLARATION OF ASSURANCE
The undersigned farm operations manager hereby confirms:
that he/she undertakes to comply with the Bio Suisse standards currently in force for the entire period
for which Bio Suisse certification has been applied;
 that he/she will inform the certification body and ICB without undue delay if they can no longer
guarantee complete compliance with the Bio Suisse standards;
 that he/she will correctly use the Bio Suisse certificate issued by ICB;
 that he/she will label Bio Suisse certified products clearly and correctly;
 that upon the expiry, termination or withdrawal of certification no further products will be traded as
certified organic;
 that he/she will also cease all advertising with any reference to certification and in such cases will
directly
 implement the steps prescribed by ICB and all other necessary measures;
 that he/ she explicitly authorizes the inspection body to forward to ICB this checklist, signed by the
inspector and a representative of the inspection body, together with all documents necessary for
the initial application and subsequent applications for renewal;
 that he/she also authorizes the inspection body to later forward any further information concerning
this farming operation that is required for Bio Suisse certification and which applies to organic
certification in conformance with Council Regulation (EC) 834/2007, Commission Regulation (EC)
889/2008 or equivalent national organic standards (e.g., infractions of [EC] 834/2007, resulting
sanctions and measures, positive analytical reports, etc.);*
 that he/ she agrees to fulfill all other requirements stipulated in the contract with the certification
body for organic certification in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) 834/2007 as well as to
meet the Bio Suisse standards;
 that he/ she grants ICB the right to carry out follow-up spot checks on their farming operation and
to take soil and product samples for analysis following consultation with their inspection and
certification body and if necessary, in the presence of representatives from the accreditation body
for ICB;
 that he /she authorizes ICB to forward the certificate and notification of conditions for Bio Suisse
certification to Bio Suisse, the appropriate authorities and if necessary, to the Swiss importer of
their products;
 that the information he or she has provided on the occasion of this Bio Suisse inspection
represents the truth to the best of their knowledge and belief.
Farm operations manager:
Date:
Signature: ....................................................................
The undersigned inspector confirms


that the information he or she has provided on the occasion of this Bio Suisse inspection
represents the truth to the best of their knowledge and belief;
that the checklist was completed during an inspection of the farming operation**.
Inspector:
Date:
Signature: .....................................................................
Stamp of the inspection body and signature of its representative:
Date:
Signature: .....................................................................
*ICB handles all information pertaining to the farming operation in a confidential manner and solely for
the purpose of certification.
**An exception is only possible during the initial application procedure if the main inspection has
already taken place and the application for Bio Suisse certification is retroactively submitted.
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Compulsory attachments:
current organic inspection report
valid organic certificate of the smallholder group and certification decision
list (farmers’ list) of members applying for the Bio Suisse certification.
Further documents:
signed Bio Suisse checklist inspections “Processing, storage and trade (if the
producer group also carries out processing or buys other products).
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