According to Implementation Rules for Organic Product Certification, the certification activities for organic products imported from countries or regions, which have not signed a harmonized memorandum for the equivalency of an organic certification system with the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA for short), shall comply with the Rules; countries or regions which have signed harmonized memorandum shall comply with the relevant provisions of the memorandum. There is only mutual equivalency of organic certification system between China and New Zealand.

According to the Measures, producers and processors voluntarily entrust certification body to conduct organic products certification. Imported products’ manufacturers, distributors, importers or agents who need acquire Chinese organic products certificate can apply certification to the certification body approved by CNCA.

It usually takes 1-3 months, depending on cooperation at each link. Theoretically, the process is as follows under the fastest and smooth schedule.

Certification consultation:

Applicant communicates with qualified CBs (take COFCC as an example) to exchange the initial information, discusses the general schedule and quotation, and prepares the application documents.

Certification application:

Applicant determines and submits the formal application documents. COFCC reviews formal documents, issues the acceptance notice and the certification contract which includes the information of the cost, workload and so on, or issues the refuse notice with explanation. Upon agreement, applicant signs the contract with COFCC and completes payment of certification fee.

On-site inspection:

COFCC arranges the on-site inspection and sample. Inspectors submit the Inspection Report and the Sample Test Report.

Comprehensive review:

COFCC audits the certification document and communicate with applicants to submit the supplementary material.

Certification decision:

Committee reviews the project and makes the certification decision. Based on the decision, certificate will issue or not.