Summary
Does your company wish to certify the conformity of products with a protected designation of origin (PDO), protected geographical indication (PGI) or traditional guarantee speciality (TSG) in Wallonia?
Apply for accreditation from SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE in French).
In Wallonia:
- before any designation is recognised as a PDO/PGI/TSG: any producer group wishing to have a new designation recognised must put forward one or more independent certifying bodies in its application file
- once a designation has been recognised: you can apply as an independent certifying body. In the majority of cases, only one independent certifying body – the one that received the producer group’s support at the end of the recognition process – is appointed to ensure that the specifications are properly applied. However, access to the accreditation remains open and other independent certifying bodies may come forward at any time.
CONFORMITY WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS AND INSPECTIONS
By becoming an accredited independent certifying body, you are participating in the European quality scheme.
You therefore have several roles in the certification process:
- examining any new application from a producer wishing to benefit from the use of a PDO, PGI, TSG quality label that already exists and for which you are one of the accredited independent certifying bodies
- being the body responsible for checking conformity with the specifications for the product in question. You check that the producer adheres to these specifications
- extending (or not) the applicant’s certificate when you carry out periodic inspections.
Our Directorate for Quality and Animal Welfare (DQBEA) at SPW Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment (ARNE):
- provides accreditation for independent certifying bodies
- supervises independent certifying bodies
- verifies conformity with the labelling rules in the territory of Wallonia, supporting FPS Economy [SPF Economie].
STRICT CRITERIA
As an independent certifying body, there are some strict criteria you must meet. For example, you must comply with the ISO/CEI 17065 standard and prove that you have sufficient human and technical resources.
See the criteria in detail in the relevant section below.
10-YEAR RENEWABLE ACCREDITATION
The independent certifying body is accredited for a maximum period of 10 years. The accreditation may be renewed.
Currently, there are several accredited independent certifying bodies in Wallonia:
- TerraCert SRL is the certifying body for seven products, including Beurre d’Ardenne (PDO) and Escavèche de Chimay (PGI). Find certified producers by product on their website (see useful links below).
- Comité du Lait ASBL is the certifying body for hay milk (STG) from cows, goats and sheep.
For wines, contact our directorate.
The maximum certification fee that you can apply for your work is indicated in the ministerial decree related to the product you are certifying.
WHAT PRODUCTS CAN I CERTIFY?
- Agricultural products and foodstuffs (PDO and TSG)
- Wines (PDO and PGI)
- Spirits (PGI)
- Aromatised wines (IGP)
INTERESTED?
Become an independent certifying body by following the accreditation application procedure below.
In detail
Any company wishing to inspect quality products in Wallonia (PDO, PGI, TSG labels)
ISO STANDARDS AND SUBCONTRACTING
- The independent certifying body is accredited under ISO/IEC 17065 to certify the conformity of products with the requirements of the particular specifications. If this is not the case, it must meet the following criteria:
- it is accredited in the agri-food industry under ISO/IEC 17065 in the same sector
- it is in the process of extending accreditation for certifying the conformity of products with the requirements of the aforesaid specifications
- it already applies the ISO/IEC 17065 requirements to the specifications at the time of applying for accreditation even if it is not yet accredited under ISO/IEC 17065 for the specifications
- The independent certifying body may not delegate the inspection activities necessary for certifying the products’ conformity with the requirements of the specifications (there is an exception to this rule for wine products only)
- The independent certifying body may delegate analytical work to any external laboratory, in compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 17065. This laboratory must be accredited according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard for such analysis
OBLIGATIONS OF THE INDEPENDENT CERTIFYING BODY
- Communicate to the DQBEA without delay any changes in the information required at the time of the accreditation application
- Ensure the certification of products under the designation in accordance with the requirements of the relevant specifications and with the certification procedure presented at the time of the accreditation application
- Provide the operator being checked with the relevant specifications, an assessment grid for non-conformities and the corresponding penalty grid, as well as the rates applied for certification
- Issue a certificate of conformity to operators for each product checked and approved as eligible for a designation
- Inform the administration immediately and withdraw the operator’s certificate of conformity when it emerges from the inspection that it no longer complies with the requirements
- If an operator changes the independent certifying body, the first body will immediately provide the next organisation with all the data necessary to ensure that the inspection and certification activities concerning that operator can continue
- If an independent certifying body gives up its accredited status or has its accreditation withdrawn, that body must send the independent certifying body designated by the operator all the data necessary to ensure that the inspection and certification activities concerning that operator can continue
- Grant access to anyone from the administration to its premises and documents and provide any information requested
- Submit to the DQBEA an annual activity report covering the period until 31 December, by 31 January of the following year at the latest. The report should include, in particular:
- the number of operators for which it has performed inspection activities for the specifications concerned
- the list of operators inspected
- individual volumes produced per operator inspected, per designation
- the number of inspections carried out over the calendar year per operator
- non-conformities identified per operator
- corrective actions arising from the non-conformities identified.
Accreditation may be suspended or withdrawn if the certifying body no longer complies with the conditions.
RIGHT TO GIVE UP YOUR ACCREDITED STATUS
How do I do this? Contact us and make your request at least three months before you wish to give up your accredited status.
The accreditation application can be in French or German. This procedure is free of charge.
IN STEPS
- A producer group proposes you as an independent certifying body in its PDO, PGI or TSG application file
OR you are applying for certification of a product that is already approved - You submit an application for accreditation as an independent certifying body to the DQBEA. Send this application by email
- Our directorate acknowledges receipt of your application within 10 days
- We will get in touch with you if we need any further information
- We submit a reasoned proposal to either grant or refuse accreditation to the Minister for Agriculture within 30 days of receiving your application
- LONGER DEADLINE when the designation to which the specifications concerned are attached is in the process of being recognised
- We notify you of the decision to grant or refuse accreditation within 10 days after the Minister’s decision is issued
INFORMATION YOU MUST PROVIDE US
Your application includes:
- the name and registered office of the independent certifying body
- identification of the sites in the Walloon Region where all the documents related to the checking of specifications can be found
- evidence of accreditation
- identification of the natural person responsible for all the activities of the independent certifying body
- identification of the person responsible for certification
- the independent certifying body’s quality manual
- the general control plan based on the control plan attached to the specifications, including inspections, audits and analysis
- the audit checklist
- the analytical control plan
- the certification procedure
- the definition of minor and major non-conformities and the measures taken against any operator after identifying different types of non-conformities
- a list of measures taken against any operator that does not comply with the obligations arising from it adopting the specifications, in accordance with a scale of proportionate and non-discriminatory penalties
- the maximum rates for certification fees that will be applied to operators
APPEALS
You have 30 days from the receipt of the decision refusing, suspending or withdrawing accreditation to lodge an appeal with the Minister for Agriculture.
- Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016 on European quality schemes and regional optional quality terms (french only)
- Ministerial Decree implementing the Walloon Government Order of 14 July 2016 on European quality schemes and regional optional quality terms (french only)
- EU regulations on food and agricultural products, wine and spirits
You have 30 days from the receipt of the decision refusing, suspending or withdrawing accreditation to lodge an appeal with the Minister for Agriculture.