Information for AFRISCO's clients

Contract between Afrisco and each operator

The operations that are to be evaluated for certification are named in the contract.  Operators have a contractual obligation to:

• Follow the standards all through the year, using approved procedures
• Notify Afrisco of any potential changes in production before they are instituted
• Set up and monitor their own organic management system, as set out in the Ground Rules, below, which form a part of this contract.  The quality system should include regular checks to identify problem areas and implement improvements 
• Provide necessary information whenever requested
• Keep field records, sales and purchase records, and financial records
• Accept scheduled inspections
• Accept random inspections on any normal workday
• Accept sample taking and associated laboratory costs
• Institute corrective and/or preventive actions required to bring the operation to organic integrity
• Provide payment (whether approved for certification or not)
• Use the Afrisco logo only to indicate adherence to the organic standard, and discontinue it’s use on all advertising matter if certification is discontinued or withdrawn
• Not use any certificate or report in a misleading manner, nor make statements concerning certification in a misleading or unauthorised manner.
• Use the logo only in the manner we specify in the Ground Rules below.

Afrisco has a contractual obligation to:

• Provide organic standards
• Make inspections, at least annually
• Efficiently process the certification application and inspection, and notify the operator of conditions and results
• Accept appeals and complaints and deal with them according to a set of standard procedures
• Publish the names and addresses of the approved producers
• Provide confidentiality and timely responses concerning all information provided to the Afrisco administration and to inspectors, with the exception of:
• Names and addresses of certified operations (which are on our website)
• Information requested by our accreditation body, or the accreditation bodies of companies to which you supply organic produce (accreditation bodies are also bound to maintain confidentiality)
• Import authorities in countries to which you export organic products
• Certification bodies of companies to which you sell organic products (only with your written or e-mailed permission)
• Obtain the specific permission of any operator for whom any other person or organisation requests information, before specific information is supplied.
• Inform you if we are required to provide information to a third party as a requirement under law, specifying what information has been provided.
• Provide copies of his/her certification records to any operator (who is a client of Afrisco) who requests to see them.
• Provide transaction certificates for operators who have been certified, speedily, for a fee.
• Constantly improve its services, as set out in the in-house Quality Manual which governs its activities, and which is regularly updated and presented for accreditation.