CCOF CERTIFICATION SERVICES, LLC
QUALITY COMMITMENT AND ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST AGREEMENT
This Statement must be completed by all persons responsibly connected to operations of CCOF Certification Services, including but not limited to: Inspectors, Certification Services LLC Management Committee Members, Top Management, Certification Employees, and Certification and Quality Contractors. CCOF can provide anyone that has submitted a report in the past with a list of all recorded COIs. Please contact coi_statements@ccof.org to request your current list.
QUALITY STATEMENT
See the CCOF Quality Management Systems Manual for the complete CCOF Quailty Policy
All persons responsibly connected to CCOF CS must agree to perform in accordance to the CCOF Quality Policy. The Quality Policy requires that the top management and its highly qualified team at all levels be committed to offering certification services in a knowledgeable, timely, professional and transparent manner, be dedicated to the organic endeavors of each and every client, and committed to integrity in the accurate evaluation and certification of operators in accordance with the applicable regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
See the CCOF Certification Services Program Manual for the complete CCOF policy on Impartiality.
Inspectors may not inspect anyone with whom they have a Conflict of Interest. Certification staff members may not make certification decisions relevant to an operation's certification status if they have a Conflict of Interest.
CCOF allows inspectors and others to also identify operations with whom there are close friendships, disagreements, or other situations that could affect impartiality or give a perception of doing so.
For USDA NOP and OCal certification programs: A Conflict of Interest exists if you, or your immediate family member, in the previous 12 months held a commercial interest in, or provided consulting services to, an operation enrolled in a CCOF Certification program. Your “immediate family” includes your spouse, minor children, or blood relatives who reside in your immediate household. A Conflict of Interest may exist if you, for any reason, have insufficient objectivity regarding the operation to perform your role in certification with impartiality.
For ISO17065 accredited certification programs, including COR Compliance Program, Mexico Compliance Program (certification under Mexico's LPO), GlobalG.A.P., Primus GFS, and Regenerative Organic CertifiedTM Program: Identical to USDA NOP Certification Program Conflict of Interest described above, except that the time period is 24 months, not 12 months.
Examples of situations where you may have a Conflict of Interest with a CCOF Client include, but are not limited to the following:
a) You are party to a transaction involving the sale or distribution of the client’s products.
b) You have a material financial interest in the outcome of any transactions involving the products of the client.
c) You work for the client in any capacity.
d) You have direct financial interest in an entity that is a supplier/vendor to the client.
e) You have an immediate family interest in the client in any capacity.
In addition to conflicting relationships that currently exist or have transpired, a conflict begins once you are aware of the impending likelihood of such a future relationship with the client.
You may provide advice and information to clients to help them understand regulations and requirements of certification.
Assisting a client in overcoming an identified barrier to certification is considered “Consulting,” and will require that you declare a Conflict of Interest with the client to CCOF. If prior to inspection / certification, you have performed consultation for, or accepted gifts of any kind from a CCOF client, you must disclose this to CCOF by reporting a Conflict of Interest. Failure to do so is unacceptable and constitutes grounds for dismissing the inspector or employee.
If a Conflict of Interest should arise, CCOF will address the conflict in accordance with impartiality provisions in CCOF Certification Services Program Manual and in compliance with applicable standards.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF QUALITY COMMITMENT AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST POLICY
By completing this form, you are acknowledging that you have read and understood the Quality Policy above, which is excerpted from the
CCOF CS Quality Management Systems Manual and the Conflict of Interest Policy in the CCOF Certification Services Manual, and that you agree to abide and uphold these policies during your relationship with CCOF. When you have successfully submitted this form, you will receive an auto-generated email confirming your submission.
STATEMENT OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST AND STATEMENT OF INTEREST
Please state the business name and CCOF client code of any operation or member within the CCOF Certification Program with whom you may have a Conflict of Interest or for whom your impartiality may be impaired. Please include the last date of your activity that would cause a Conflict of Interest, or write "ongoing."
When you have successfully submitted this form, you will receive an auto-generated email confirming your submission.
CCOF CERTIFICATION SERVICES, LLC ANNUAL CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT
