IPM
Verification Guidelines
Program Highlights:
- A new “Participating Organization” membership category of
the IPM Institute is created, open to organizations that use IPM-based
qualifying criteria.
- Special role for independent IPM consultants. Independent
consultants are professionals who provide IPM consulting services only,
and not product sales, to schools or to farmers. These professionals
could apply to become “Certified IPM Managers” and serve as inspectors for their own clients. Certified IPM Managers would be audited
by “Certified Inspectors.” This provision is modeled after the “Certified
Resource Manager” used by the Smartwood Program for forest product
certification. The Certified Resource Manager is a qualified forester
who provide woodlot management services to woodlot owners. Smartwood
designed its program to make it economically feasible for small woodlot
owners to participate.
- A “Verification Review Committee,” made up of IPM
Institute members, as a mechanism to maintain and administer the policy.
- Verification frequency may be reduced from annually to once
every three years for “Established Participants,” those who have
successfully maintained approval for three or more consecutive years.
1.0 Statement of Purpose
The IPM Institute and other organizations are facilitating
identification of products and services meeting high standards for
Integrated Pest Management (IPM), and other criteria. These
organizations wish to work collaboratively to maintain credible
compliance verification and reduce duplication of effort and costs to
their programs and their participants. This document sets out
definitions and procedures to meet these goals.
2.0 Definitions
A PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATION is a member organization of the
IPM Institute in good standing and using IPM as a qualifying requirement
for participants.
A PARTICIPANT is an individual, enterprise, or institution
applying or reapplying to a participating organization for
certification, approval or endorsement.
An ESTABLISHED PARTICIPANT is an individual, enterprise or
institution maintaining certified, approved or endorsed status with a
participating organization for three or more consecutive years.
VERIFICATION is the process of evaluating a participant for
compliance with the program requirements of participating organizations.
An IPM INSTITUTE CERTIFIED INSPECTOR
is a member of the IPM Institute in good
standing who meets the qualifications stated in this policy and is
specifically designated as such by the IPM Institute.
An IPM INSTITUTE CERTIFIED IPM MANAGER is a member of the IPM Institute in
good standing who meets the qualifications stated in this policy and is
specifically designated as such by the IPM Institute. This
classification is available to professionals providing IPM consulting
services, but not product sales, to clients.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS are those qualifications that must be met
for participants to become certified, approved or endorsed by
participating organizations.
The VERIFICATION REVIEW COMMITTEE is a group of at least six
individuals formed to maintain this policy and investigate allegations
of policy violations. At least two members of this committee will be
employees or Directors of the IPM Institute, two will be employees or
Directors of participating organizations and two will be certified inspectors. The IPM Institute Board of Directors will appoint all members
of this committee to two-year terms, provide oversight of the committee,
and may overrule or modify any action of the committee.
3.0 Inspector Classifications
Specific classifications are created to reflect the expertise
required for each classification. Current classifications include:
Community IPM
Agricultural IPM
4.0 Qualifications
4.1 Education and experience - Certified inspectors and certified IPM
managers must have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited
institution and at least five years employment in IPM within the
classification. Qualifying employment will include work experience in
practicing, directing and/or educating in the classification. The
degree requirement may be waived in the event of ten years or more
employment within the classification.
Certified inspectors meeting requirements in one classification may
apply for approval in a second classification upon meeting training
requirements for the second classification, without the required work
experience in the classification.
4.2 Training - Applicants for certified inspector
and certified IPM
manager status must complete an approved training course on the
verification process. Training sessions will be announced in the
IPM Institute Newsletter and Web site (EVENTS).
4.3 Continuing education - Certified inspectors and certified IPM
managers must complete a minimum of 12 hours in approved training every
three years in the classification to maintain certified status.
4.4 Approval of courses for training and continuing education - The
Institute will maintain a list of approved training and continuing
education courses. Certified inspectors, participating organizations and
others may submit courses for approval to be added to the list. Approval
of courses will be by consensus vote of the verification review
committee.
4.5 Certifications accepted in lieu of requirements - Applicants may submit
proof of current certification from the following programs in lieu of
documenting education and experience requirements in this application, with
the exception of section 4.2 Training: American Society of Agronomy Certified
Crop Advisor; ARCPACS Scientist or Specialist certifications; Entomological
Society of America Board Certified Entomologist; Independent Organic
Inspectors Association (IOIA) Accreditation; or National Alliance of
Independent Crop Consultants Certified Professional Crop Consultant.
4.6 Appeal of Denial - Applicants who are denied Certified
Inspector Status
may reapply on resolution of the issue causing denial, or may appeal in
writing to the IPM Board of Directors. Appeals will be reviewed at the next
scheduled Board meeting.
5. 0 Verification Procedures
Participating organizations agree that verification will include a
site visit, review of IPM, pesticide and other records as needed to
verify compliance, an interview of the participant, and a summary report
prepared by the inspector to the participating organization.
5.1 Verification Frequency - Participating organizations agree to
verification of participants annually in at least the first three years
of participation. Once a participant has achieved Established
Participant status, verification frequency may be reduced to every third
year, with the inspector choosing to review records from one or more of
the three years to verify compliance. In the intervening years,
established participants must self-verify, and maintain all records for
those years. Participating organizations may choose to enact or not
enact this reduced frequency option.
5.2 Verification of Certified IPM Managers - Participating
organizations agree to verification of certified IPM Managers with the
same frequency. Certified inspectors must check records and conduct site
visits of at least 10% of the IPM Manager’s clients. The IPM Manager
must verify the compliance of each client annually, and provide a
summary report for each client to the inspector.
5.3 Verification or Self-Verification Failure - If an established
participant fails to qualify in anyone year, the failed product will
revert to annual verification. If self-verification by a participant, or
verification of clients by certified IPM managers indicates a failure to
meet program requirements, the participant or certified IPM manager must
immediately inform the participating organization and not submit that
product for certification or approval.
6.0 Code of Conduct
All information acquired through the verification process must be
held in confidence by the certified inspector and the participating
organization. Participating organizations must take measures to ensure
that this information is communicated to others within the organization
only on a need-to-know basis. Participating organizations may report
information acquired through the verification process only after written
permission is granted by the participant.
A certified inspector must be impartial and independent in his/her
evaluation of a participant’s compliance with program requirements.
6.1 Conflict of interest - Services provided by the certified
inspector to the participant must be limited to assistance in meeting
program requirements, assistance in improving practices relating to
program requirements and verification of compliance with program
requirements. With the exception of the preceding services, the
certified inspector must not be employed by, contract with, or have any
financial interest in enterprises involving the participant for a period
of two years prior to and after the verification year.
6.2 Code of ethics - Certified inspectors must sign an affidavit
certifying that they have read, understand and agree to these policies,
and will adhere to the following code of ethics:
I will not exaggerate or make unsubstantiated statements or
recommendations. Whenever I offer an opinion, I will be as thoroughly
informed as I can be. I will refer inquiries to a more competent
person or organization when necessary. When my information comes from
another source, I will give credit where credit is due.
I will protect the interests of my client to the fullest extent
possible. I will always recommend products and services based on the
benefits to the client. If my client’s requests conflict with the
limits of the law or my code of ethics, I will resolve the conflict or
resign.
I will hold my client’s information in confidence. I will not use
such information for any purpose without consent.
I will promote dissemination of accurate technical knowledge within
my profession. I will be fair to all and not attempt to injure the
reputation of others. I will not attempt to influence the client’s
choice of certification or endorsement programs.
I will defend my profession against anyone who engages in unethical
or illegal practices. I will counsel against unethical or illegal
practices by word and deed, and bring any unethical behavior I observe
to the attention of the appropriate legal authorities or the IPM
Institute.
7.0 Oversight
Participating organizations agree to provide oversight of certified
inspectors and certified IPM managers working with participants in their
respective certification, approval or endorsement programs. Oversight
must include submission and review of pest monitoring and pesticide
application records, a verification report/recommendation form completed
by the certified inspector, verification spot checks of at least 2% of
participants per year, and a written complaint reporting, resolution and
appeals policy.
7.1 Verification Spot Checks - Participating organizations will spot
check participant and inspector compliance by site visits to at least 2%
participants per year. These spot checks may be conducted by employees
or contracted third parties other than the inspector conducting the
original verification. Third parties contracted to conduct spot checks
must not be employed by, contract with, or have any financial interest
in enterprises involving the participant or inspector to be spot checked
for a period of five years prior to and after the year the spot check is
conducted.
7.2 Complaints - Participating organizations receiving a written
allegation of a failure to comply with qualifying criteria or
verification policies must acknowledge receipt of the allegation in
writing to the sender within 48 hours, and must conduct an investigation
and respond fully with results of the investigation and details of
corrective action within 60 days. Participating organizations making a
determination of a violation of any part of this policy by an certified inspector
will report the results of that investigation and details of
any corrective action to the IPM Institute immediately upon completion
of the investigation. The verification review committee may revoke
certified inspector status from any individual as a result of its own
investigation or those of any participating organization.
7.3 Disciplinary action - Corrective measures taken by the IPM
Institute or participating organizations against participants certified inspectors or IPM managers as a result of any investigation may include
but are not limited to revocation of certification, approval or
endorsement; fines; and/or disqualification from current or future
participation. The verification review committee will make all
determinations of disqualification from certified inspector status.
7.4 Appeals - Certified inspectors or participants must be provided
with an opportunity to appeal any initial determination of violation and
disciplinary action. Determinations by the verification review committee
against certified inspectors are subject to appeal to the IPM Institute
Board of Directors at their next scheduled meeting.
8.0 Use of the IPM Institute name
Participating Organizations are authorized to use the IPM Institute
name when referring to certified inspectors used by their programs.
9.0 List of Certified
Inspectors
The IPM Institute will maintain a current list of certified
inspectors
in print and on its Web site, and will make this list available to
anyone on request. Participating organizations agree to adhere to this
list of certified inspectors.
10.0 Maintenance of the Guidelines
These guidelines will be reviewed semi-annually by the verification review
committee. The IPM Institute Board of Directors must review and approve
any proposed changes of these guidelines.
11.0 Selected References
American Society of Agronomy Certification Programs. http://www.agronomy.org/certification/
California Certified Organic Farmers.
Procedures for Certification.
1.6 Inspection Procedure. http://www.ccof.org/pdfs/CCOFman1.pdf
Entomological Society of America Board Certified Entomologist
Program. http://www.entsoc.org/bce/
IFOAM/IOIA International Organic Inspection Manual. Available from
the Independent Organic Inspectors Association, www.ioia.net
National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants Certification
Program. http://www.naicc.org/
Smartwood Certification and Certification Guidelines.
http://www.isf-sw.org/
Sooby, J. 1996. Organic Certification in Nebraska.
http://ianrwww.unl.edu/pubs/nebfacts/nf259.htm
