HKORC-Cert provides certification services on Crop Production, Aquaculture, and Processing and Handling. Applicants should refer to the “Organic Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing Standard” for the requirements of each of the relevant type of certification.
Crop Production Certification
All production units adopting organic practice for crop production could apply for this certification category. All certified organic crops must comply with the Organic Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing Standard throughout the production cycle from sowing, fertilizing all the way to harvest and sales in order to ensure crop production is taking responsible care to the health of consumers and the environment.
Aquaculture Certification
All production units adopting organic practice to produce aquatic animals in natural or artificial marine or freshwater environment could apply for this certification category. All certified organic aquaculture systems shall maintain a healthy and environmentally friendly aquatic ecosystem, meeting the requirement for sustainable development. Throughout the production process, the natural behaviour of aquatic animals is taken into consideration, and in the same time animals are fed with organic feed of good quality to satisfy their nutrition requirement, and animal’s welfare and feeling is taken into account to minimize their stress.
Processing and Handling Certification
All processing units that process raw materials produced in accordance with the Organic Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing Standard belongs to this category. In addition to simple post-harvest packaging activities carried out in the farm, processing refers to procedures such as cooking, grinding, refrigeration, etc. Throughout the production cycle including processing, handling and sales, certified processing units should able to demonstrate the essence of organic, and to provide consumers with high-quality organic products.
Input Manufacturing Certification
All production units are applicable to the production units that perform production of inputs for organic production and processing, using methods that conform to the Standard and the policy manual. The input is necessary to produce crops or livestock in sufficient quantity and of suitable quality; to cycle nutrients; to enhance biological activity; to provide a balanced animal diet; to protect crops and livestock from pests, parasites, and diseases; to regulate growth; and to maintain and improve soil quality.
You are welcomed to contact us to learn more about the requirements and details of our certification services.
Potential applicants for our certification service are recommended to download the Certification Assessment Form from our website to conduct a self-assessment in order to determine the suitable certification category to apply for, and to obtain an initial understanding of organic operation through the questions in the form. After conducting the self-assessment, a certification information pack could be applied to obtain the necessary reference documents and template which are essential to the application. Under normal circumstances, the whole application procedures counting from the first initial submission of certification application to the final issuance of certification will last for around 3 months. The certification issued by ORC-Cert is valid for 1 year, and certified units are required to renew their certification annually.
First-time Application
| Main Steps | Remarks | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Applicant completes Certification Assessment Form and obtain Information Packet | Applicant returns Certification Assessment Form and the Information Pack Fee to ORC-Cert office in order to request for the Information Pack. Information Pack Fee is HKD 250, which will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application. The Information Pack includes Certification Policy Manual (Abbreviated as the Policy), Hong Kong Organic Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing Standard (Abbreviated as the Standard), and Certification Application Form and other relevant forms. |
| 2 | Read the relevant part of the Standard as well as the Policy Manual. | |
| 3 | Applicant completes Certification Application Form and submits with Initial Fee of Certification Application | Applicant can submit Certification Assessment Form in this stage, if not yet submitted. The Initial Fee of Certification Application for Crop Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing is HKD800, HKD 800 and HKD 1500 respectively. This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application. |
| 4 | ORC-Cert reviews if the application is complete and within the scope of certification. | For incomplete application or outstanding payment, relevant additional information or fees must be submitted within 30 days upon receiving notification. |
| 5 | ORC-Cert issues Initial Review Checklist and Certification Proposal | Applicant does not conform to the Standard will receive notification of rejection. The applicant may rebut or appeal. |
| 6 | Applicant returns the filled Certification Proposal and submit application fee to ORC-Cert. | An inspection fee of HKD1200 per day is required for Crop Production, Aquaculture, Processing and Input Manufacturing. Testing Fee associated with the certification process shall be submitted separately. |
| 7 | Inspector conducts on-site inspection and prepares Inspector’s Report. | |
| 8 | Certification Board (CB) convenes meeting to review the application. | |
| 9 | Applicant eligible to be awarded with certification must complete, sign and submit the “Organic Production / Processing and Handling Certification Contract” and “Trademark Use Agreement” to ORC-Cert. | Applicant who is rejected for certification will receive a written notice of Denial of Certification, and could rebut and appeal against the decision. |
| 10 | Confirmation of certification status and award of certification certificate. |
Table of Charges for Certification and Relevant Administration Fee
A. HKORC-Cert Certification Fee Type
1. Crop Production Certification
- Information Pack Fee: HKD250 (Information Packet Documents)
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application; Continuation of Certification does not require to submit.) - Certification Fee:
| * Initial Fee of Certification Application (HKD) (Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) |
Farm Size (1DC=1/6 Acre=0.0676 Hectare=676 m2 ) |
*Certification Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
| $800 (This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application.) |
Below 20 DC | $13,000 |
| Over 20-50 DC | $20,000 | |
| Over 50-100 DC | $26,000 | |
| Over 100-500 DC | $33,000 | |
| Over 500-1,000 DC | $39,000 | |
| Over1,000 DC | $52,000 |
The above fee excludes inspection fee and testing fee.
- Basic Testing Fee: around HKD5,000 (Testing is carried out by third party independent laboratory** accredited by the government. This fee will be charged according to the quotation concerned.)
- Inspection fee: HKD1,200/day (at least two days while half day is to be considered as one whole day)
- Operation units outside Hong Kong will subject to additional costs including transportation, accommodation, communication, and administration cost
2. Aquaculture Certification
- Information Pack Fee: HKD250 (Information Packet Documents)
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application; Continuation of Certification does not require to submit.) - Certification Fee:
| * Initial Fee of Certification Application (HKD) (Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) |
Pond/Production Zone Size (1DC=1/6 Acre=0.0676 Hectare=676 m2 ) |
*Certification Fee (HKD) |
|---|---|---|
| $800 (This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application.) |
Below 20 DC | $13,000 |
| Over 20-50 DC | $20,000 | |
| Over 50-100 DC | $26,000 | |
| Over 100-500 DC | $33,000 | |
| Over 500-1,000 DC | $39,000 | |
| Over1,000 DC | $52,000 |
The above fee excludes inspection fee and testing fee.
- Basic Testing Fee: around HKD5,000 (Testing is carried out by third party independent laboratory** accredited by the government. This fee will be charged according to the quotation concerned.)
- Inspection fee: HKD1,200/day (at least two days while half day is to be considered as one whole day)
- Operation units outside Hong Kong will subject to additional costs including transportation, accommodation, communication, and administration cost
3.Processing and Handling Certification
- Information Pack Fee: HKD250 (Information Packet Documents)
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application; Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) - Certification Fee:
| * Initial Fee of Certification Application (Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) |
* Certification Fee (HKD) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
10% of Basic Fee
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application.) |
Basic Fee | |
| Repacking | $8,000 | |
| For complicated process procedure or mass production of repacking | $20,000 | |
The above fee excludes inspection fee and testing fee.
- Testing Fee: depends on each application
- Inspection: HKD1,200/day (at least two days while half day is to be considered as one whole day)
- Operation units outside Hong Kong will subject to additional costs including transportation, accommodation, communication, and administration cost
* Initial Fee of Certification Application (Continuation of Certification does not require the submission of Initial Fee) shall be submitted with Certification Application Form; Certification Fee shall be submitted with the Certification Proposal.
4. Input Manufacturing
- Information Pack Fee: HKD250 (Information Packet Documents)
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application; Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) - Certification Fee:
| * Initial Fee of Certification Application (Continuation of Certification does not require to submit) |
* Certification Fee (HKD) |
|
|---|---|---|
|
10% of Basic Fee
(This fee will be deducted from the Certification Fee if ORC-Cert accepts to process the application.) |
Basic Fee | Product(s) of Input|
| IFOAM accredited or Equivalent | $8,000 | |
| Do not have IFOAM accredited or Equivalent | $20,000 | |
B. Administration Fees
| Appeal Fee: | $1,000 | (This fee will be returned if the appeal is accepted.) |
| Scope Amendment Fee | $500 | (This fee is for area extension only. Others are free of charge.) |
| Document Review Fee | $1,200 or above | (This fee depends on the number of certificates required for the review. The minimum charge is HKD1,200.) |
| Product Acceptance Fee | $1,200 or above | (This fee depends on the number of products and on-site audits required. The minimum charge is HKD1,200.) |
| Penalty on Nonconformance | Max. $10,000 | (This fee is applicable to suspension or revocation of organic certification.) |
|
*Repeated inspection fee
(subject to individual situation) |
$1,200 each plus associated administration fee |
*raised by inadequate information & possible nonconformance by operator
C. Government subsidized items
1.Crop Production Certification
Farms (with farm size below 20 DC) which have registered the Organic Farming Support Service (OFSS) under Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) are granted special discount. Certification fee (including Initial Fee, Certification fee and Inspection fee) for registered farm is $1500.
The discount is not applicable to farms with farm size 20 DC or above.
2.Aquaculture Certification
Certification fee (including Initial Fee, Certification fee and Inspection fee) of ponds/production zones (with farm size below 20 DC) which were subsidized by Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) are granted special discount. Certification fee (including Initial Fee, Certification fee and Inspection fee) for registered farm is $1500.
The discount is not applicable to ponds/production zones with size 20 DC or above.
The above items are funded by the Sustainable Agriculture Development Fund (SADF).
The above information is for reference only. All application matters should be based on the relevant contents listed in the latest version of the ‘ORC-Cert Certification Policy Manual’.
All fees should be paid by local bank crossed cheque made payable to “Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre Certification Limited.”
Continuation of Certification
Applicant completes the Re-Certification Form, and pay the one-off certification fee (the fee includes certification application fee and inspection fee, fee for information packet and initial review is not required) to ORC-Cert. The subsequent procedures are same as steps 4-10 of first-time application.
The above information is for reference only, for the most accurate and up-to-date application information please refer to the updated ‘ORC-Cert Certification Policy Manual’.
**Below are the third party independent laboratories selected by HKORC-cert Ltd through open tendering:
- ALS Technichem (HK) Pty Ltd
- CMA Testing and Certification Laboratories
- Enviro Labs Limited
Certified operations are given the right to select their own preferred laboratory(s). The laboratory(s) selected must be accredited by the Hong Kong Laboratory Accreditation Scheme (HOKLAS). All extra cost shall be borne by the operation.