ATTRIBUTION PROCEDURE OF BIO EQUITABLE LABEL

Association “BIO ÉQUITABLE“
INEED – ROVALTAIN TGV
1 rue Marc SEGUIN – BP 11114 - 26958 Valence Cedex 9 - France
E-mail : info@bioequitable.com
Contact : Marjolaine BEILLARD

1. PRE-TEST FILE

BIO EQUITABLE will forward to companies interested the following documents :
• A standard
• A procedure form
• A pre-test document (to be filled out minutely with requested available annexes)
• A letter bearing one's commitment to facilitate, by any means, the control work for attribution of the BIO EQUITABLE label (to be signed by the operator)
• The registration form.

After reading the file, if operators confirm interest, they will have to forward the documents requested (pre-test file, commitment letter and registration fee payment) to the BIO EQUITABLE Association.


2. STUDY OF THE FILE

The pre-test file which is filled out by operators will be forwarded to ECOCERT SA for study ; ECOCERT SA commits to respond within 30 days from reception of the file.

Two cases in point :
• If pre-test file indicates too many major gaps, operators will have to correct and submit their files again later if they want.


• If pre-test file is admissible, ECOCERT SA will forward an estimate of control (performed by ECOCERT SA in all cases in point for the first year, then, possibly, through subcontracting thereafter for operators who are certified in organic agriculture by another third-party organization). Such an estimate will be established to applying operators. Control provision will be invoiced directly by ECOCERT to applicants. Payment conditions will be indicated on the estimates.



Control performance deadline

Conducting the « physical » control of programme(s) of operators depend on their choice, whether to take advantage from the annual Bio control or to speed up the conduct of a specific control occurring earlier on and separately from the annual Bio control.

ECOCERT SA Notification Deadline to the BIO EQUITABLE association ECOCERT SA commits to forward its advice on attribution (or not) of the BIO EQUITABLE label at latest 60 days after conducting the physical control.




The examination of files by BIO EQUITABLE Association

The examination of files by the BIO EQUITABLE association will take place during the quarterly meeting of the management committee (March, June, September, December) and the advice will be forwarded to operators 8 days after the meeting of the committee.

The operators can not use the BIO EQUITABLE Label before they get a written approval form BIO EQUITABLE Association. As soon as they get this approval they become officially members of BIO EQUITABLE Association.