Section 375 IAC 1-2-5 - Certification inspectors; duties and responsibilitiesAuthority: IC 15-15-8-17
Affected: IC 15-15-8
Sec. 5.
(a) The certification inspector shall do the following: (1) Inspect applicants for initial review and organic certification in accordance with the Indiana organic standards in this title. Inspections shall be completed in a timely fashion following the receipt by the certifying agent of a completed application.(2) Report to the certifying agent his or her recommendations concerning applicants for organic certification. Recommendations shall be signed and dated by the inspector on forms approved by the panel. These forms shall be submitted to the certifying agent promptly upon completion of the inspection.(b) Prior to the commencement of a harvest, the inspector shall, before the harvest begins, do the following: (1) Visit at least one-third (a) of the total fields on the farm and at least one (1) field of each crop to be certified on the farm and verify that practices conform to the Indiana certified organic standards and to written information in the application. The fields to be visited are to be picked at random at the discretion of the inspector unless otherwise instructed by the certifying agent.(2) Examine postharvest handling facilities, evaluate the producer's management skills and organizational ability, inventory materials, and ensure that all equipment available for weed control and other necessary activities is capable of doing the job required at the scale proposed.(3) Discuss potential problems and possible solutions with an emphasis on product quality, audit trailing, and organic crop improvement.(4) Report to and/or meet with the certifying agent.Indiana State Department of Agriculture; 375 IAC 1-2-5; filed Jun 15, 2001, 11:46 a.m.: 24 IR 3632; readopted filed Nov 26, 2007, 2:49 p.m.: 20071226-IR-375070721RFA