LFP Process for Inspections and Certification

Local Flavour Plus provides certification based on independent, third-party inspections by inspectors trained and accredited by the Independent Organic Inspectors Association and who receive additional training in inspecting for LFP standards.

When LFP receives an application for certification, LFP hires an independent inspector to assess whether a farm or processor meets the LFP certification standards. The independent inspector provides one of five decisions:

(1) The inspector concludes that the farm or processor meets the standards and recommends that all the products requested for certification be accepted as LFP certified product;

(2) The inspector concludes that the farm or processor meets the standards in most areas and that a more limited range of products than requested be accepted as LFP certified product;

(3) The inspector concludes that the farm or processor largely meets the standards, but that a few minor improvements must be made prior to certification. If the farmer or processor completes the improvements within a specified period, the inspector recommends that all the products requested for certification be accepted as LFP certified product;

(4) The inspector concludes that the farm or processor largely meets the standards in most areas, but that a few minor improvements must be made prior to certification. If the farmer or processor completes the improvements within a specified period, the inspector recommends that a more limited range of products than requested be accepted as LFP certified product;

(5) The inspector concludes that the farm or processor does not meet the standards and that certification not be granted.

Local Flavour Plus's contractual obligation to pay the inspector is not affected by the inspector's final decision.

After completing the inspection and making a decision, the inspector submits a report to LFP's Director of Certification Services. The Director of Certification Services provides organizational acceptance of the inspector's report. After reviewing the inspector's report, the Director of Certification Services could request that the inspector reconsider the decision if:

(1) proper inspection procedures had not been followed;

(2) s/he felt critical information related to farm or processor practices had not been properly considered;

(3) significant new information on farm or processor practices was received after the inspector's report was submitted.

The Director of Certification Services cannot request a reconsideration of the inspector's decision based on product demand by buyers.

If the Director of Certification Services determines that the inspector's decision should be reconsidered, then the Director of Certification Services documents the objection and sends it to the inspector for consideration. The inspector will review the objection and render a decision by submitting a final inspection report to LFP's Director of Certification Services. In a case where the inspector does not believe the Director's concerns are warranted, both parties will agree on the appointment of a second independent inspector to review the report and offer an opinion on whether changes are required. The decision of the second inspector will be final for the certification year under discussion.

Once the Director of Certification Services accepts the inspector's final decision, s/he forwards that acceptance to the President of LFP.

LFP's President reviews the report and then informs the farmer or processor of the inspector's decision. If the decision is to certify all or part of the farm or processor's operation, then the President issues an official LFP certificate identifying what farm or processor products are LFP certified.