SPRING/Coop Italia is an add-on of IFA and shall follow the valid to date of IFA.
SPRING/Coop Italia regulations allow audits for this add-on during an active cycle of IFA, in the first year of application (Initial audits of the add-on when a valid cycle for IFA is certified).
SPRING/Coop Italia regulations allow separate audits for the add-on and IFA but only for initial SPRING/Coop Italia audits. Combined audits are mandatory for the rest of the cycles
Synchronization of the valid to date for initial:
- A) Combined audits: SPRING letter of conformance/Coop Italia is issued with the same “valid to” date as the IFA certificate. When combined audits were conducted during the valid IFA audit window (maximum 4 months before the expire date of IFA) DoCD (date of certification decision) can be delayed for SPRING/Coop Italia to make possible that both (IFA certificate and add-on) can be issued with the same “valid to” date. The maximum delay time of SPRING/Coop Italia DoCD is 28 days. This maximum delay is important because action plan for non-compliance minor is 28 days and not having the action plan means that the grower can not get the letter of compliance.
- B) If the SPRING letter of conformance/Coop Italia is needed before the new IFA certificate is issued and/or DoCD for SPRING/Coop Italia cannot be delayed more than 28 days: SPRING/Coop Italia “valid to” date should be shortened to the “valid to” date of IFA, to allow synchronization in the next cycle. Uploading the same SPRING/Coop Italia audit would be valid for both cycles, this shortened current cycle and the next synchronized one (The same checklist is valid for the short add-on cycle and the next 12 months cycle). This is possible only if the producer undertakes to be audited for IFA and add-on for the following cycles. We need a written confirmation that the producer will continue with certification in the next cycle for such constellations.
>>Similar approach as explained in the wiki article Alignment of GRASP and IFA - GLOBALG.A.P. Wiki Site (ggwiki-globalgap.org) under No II and Example2.
In case a different assessment, DOCD and/or audit date was selected, the CB shall keep record and document to have evidence !
- C) If initial SPRING/Coop Italia assessment was conducted during the validity of a IFA certificate but without a combined IFA audit: “valid to” date of the letter of conformance must be shortened to the “valid to” date of IFA. A new subsequent SPRING/Coop Italia assessment is needed (combined with the subsequent IFA audit) for the subsequent cycle.
