Work Package 3

Due to the growth and the more complex structure of the organic marketplace, organic inspectors require detailed and sophisticated knowledge on critical points in the organic production chain which they can use in their daily work.

For this purpose, already existing training concepts (initial qualification, initial training as well as further training) for the official food and feed control in Germany, Austria and Italy and several private certification programs (British Retail Consortium (BRC), Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), GLOBALG.A.P., GMP+ Feed Safety Assurance (GMP+ FSA), International Featured Standard (IFS), Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC), Renewable Energy Directive certification (REDcert), Qualität und Sicherheit (Quality and Safety, QS) and UTZ certified) were reviewed and compared.

As far as determined in the research, the official control systems and private certification schemes do not conduct targeted specialist trainings on past fraud cases and practical consequences for the daily work of inspectors.

The initial qualification for new inspectors and the on-going training and maintaining of the competence of already approved inspectors (experienced inspectors) have different competence targets.

First of all, new inspectors must prove that they have the professional and technical knowledge of the sector they want to work in. The basic education (university studies, vocational training), work experience and/or audit experience for other certification schemes in the same sector can be taken into account on the fulfilment of this requirement.

The competence targets in the training of new organic inspectors are:

1. getting to know the EU legislation on organic farming, if relevant other private organic certification schemes and the corresponding certification procedures of the control body
2. getting to know the content and intelligent implementation of the inspection toolbox (for on-site visits of operators, documentation review, sampling, and analysis)
3. getting to know relevant non-conformity and irregularity scenarios as well as fraud cases
4. exploring audit techniques (communication techniques, assessment and evaluation, documentation of situations/facts and non-conformities)

New inspectors need a basic understanding for the certification schemes (s)he should work in, several private certification schemes and some authorities use online-trainings to practical impart formal and basic knowledge of the systems. At the subsequent face-to-face trainings by the control body, inspectors should also be trained in relevant irregularities and the intelligent use of the inspection toolbox. This could be achieved with working groups and other active learning tools.

Furthermore, new inspectors have to understand their role and tasks as an inspector. This can be achieved for example by including elements of DIN EN ISO 19011 in face-to-face trainings of the control body. To gain audit experience, new inspectors should at first accompany experienced inspectors in a defined number of inspections on-site. After that they should conduct a specific number of inspections under the supervision of an experienced inspector. An evaluation of their competence is required before they can perform organic inspections themselves.

Experienced organic inspectors have other competence targets to fulfil. These are:

1. updates of EU legislation on organic farming, if relevant other private organic certification schemes and the corresponding certification procedures of the control body
2. implementation and expansion of the skills of the inspection toolbox (for the on-site visit of operators, review of documentation, sampling, and analysis)
3. extension of knowledge on relevant non-conformity and irregularity scenarios as well as fraud cases
4. in-depth use of audit techniques (communication techniques, assessment and evaluation, documentation of situations/facts and non-conformities)

Experienced inspectors have to maintain their qualification by attending trainings regularly. Trainings can be organized by the control body or, in the case of additional modular trainings on special topics, also by specialized organizations. The trainings should be based on the results of the performance review of the inspectors as required by ISO 17065. Training methods which might be used include working groups, case studies, exchange of experience, audit simulations and final exams.

Another point for improving the inspectors’ competence is the on-going auditing/inspecting, which is ensured by a minimum number of required audits/inspections in a defined time frame.

Performance reviews monitor the inspectors’ competence. During witness audits, experienced inspectors of the control body or a competent authority accompany the inspector in an audit. Another element of a performance review could be a review of the inspection reports delivered by the inspector to the control body. The results of such performance reviews serve to identify the particular training needs and to define the contents of the forthcoming trainings.

A simple but quite helpful element is the distribution of certification scheme news by the scheme owner via electronic media (Email newsletter, blogs, social networks…). By this, inspectors and auditors are always up-to-date concerning current issues in the respective certification scheme.