Accredited certifiers and accreditation schemes
As an accredited certifier you will be able to issue your own biosecurity certificates in the form of a plant health assurance certificate (PHAC). These certificates can be for your produce or, in some cases, on behalf of business. There are 2 certification assurance schemes available for accredited certifiers:
- Interstate Certification Assurance (ICA) scheme
- Certification Assurance Accreditation (CAA) scheme.
These are nationally accepted systems of plant health certification that allow an accredited certifier to issue biosecurity certificates in accordance with their conditions of accreditation. This is an alternative to certification provided by a biosecurity inspector.
A person (or legal entity) may apply to become an accredited certifier. You must demonstrate effective in-house procedures that ensure any material consigned to intrastate or interstate markets meets the specified legal (quarantine) requirements.
How the ICA and CAA schemes work
The schemes are based on documented operational procedures that we have developed to meet the quarantine requirements for moving plants, plant products and related items within Queensland, or to another state or territory.
These operational procedures (accreditation systems) describe the processes, process controls, training requirements, certification, record keeping and audit requirements that you must implement and maintain as part of your accreditation.
Learn more about moving equipment, plant material and soil.
Accreditation arrangements
An accreditation arrangement is defined as an accredited certifier implementing an operational procedure (accreditation system) at a single location (facility). The requirements of an accreditation arrangement are described in each operational procedure.
The accredited certifier is responsible for specified treatments, inspections or other processes as described in each operational procedure that must be implemented and maintained. We ensure that the accreditation arrangement is in place and working effectively through regular audits based on risk.
More than 1 accreditation arrangement from 1 or both of the accreditation schemes is allowed.
Apply to become an accredited certifier
You can apply to become an accredited certifier by completing an application form. A separate application is required for each ICA or CAA arrangement being sought.
You can apply:
- online by completing an Application for accreditation of accredited certifier for interstate certification assurance (ICA) or certification assurance (CAA) arrangement
- or
- by downloading and completing either the:
An application is made by the legal entity (individual, partnership, company, cooperative, association or other legal entity) that owns and operates the business to be covered by the ICA or CAA arrangement.
All ICA arrangements and some CAA arrangements will be audited by Biosecurity Queensland before you are approved as an accredited certifier. Audits systematically examine your business processes, staff, equipment and facilities to verify that it meets the requirements of the operational procedure covering the ICA or CAA arrangement.
Regular scheduled audits will be carried out on all ICA arrangements, and some CAA arrangements. The number and frequency of audits are detailed in each operational procedure.
What ICA and CAA covers
Operational procedures have been developed for a range of treatments, conditions or other requirements, including:
- area/property freedom
- irradiation
- dipping
- flood spraying
- low-volume, non-recirculated spraying
- fumigation
- heat treatment (vapour heat and hot water)
- cold treatment
- hard green/mature green/unbroken skin condition
- pre-harvest treatment and inspection
- splitting and reconsigning certified produce
- nursery plant treatment and inspection
- product inspection/repacking.
Also consider...
- Learn more about moving equipment, plant material and soil.