GSPP General Audit Regulations

1 I-14-1136. gspp General Audit Regulations History of changes Version Chapter Changes Extension of the Accreditation through Periodical Audit Accreditation Process Accreditation cycle Audit process Audit reports Tariff Structure 1. Introduction The gspp General Audit Regulations (GAR) are intended for clarification of the non-technical gspp process as described in the specific Standard and Annexes. These are referred to if applicable in the GAR. It is a General document intended for gspp Participant to improve and combine the information around the accreditation process. The GAR does not apply to internal procedures for working in workgroups, technical committees or Board. Details The Foundation's full name and registered office are: Stichting The Foundation Good Seed and Plant Practices Vossenburchkade 68. 2805 PC Gouda The Netherlands The foundation's website is The VAT number is: NL821645675B01. The Foundation operates under Dutch law. The gspp Foundation is responsible for the Accreditation system, the gspp .

2 Standard and all supporting documents. As an international business initiative the formal communication language is English. However there is an exception in the following countries: France and The Netherlands. France: SOC performs the Audits and they can be done in French. The documentation can be in French. The Netherlands: Naktuinbouw performs the Audits and they can be done in Dutch. The documents can be Dutch. Audit reports need to be in English, prepared by the Auditor, as these need to be discussed between the two Audit Organizations and possibly with the gspp . Secretariat in harmonisation and interpretation meetings. gspp General Audit Regulations Page 1. I-14-1136. General Audit Regulations The General Audit Regulations describe the Accreditation rules applicable for any party that wants to be gspp accredited and maintain its Accreditation. Legislation The gspp Standard does not supersede local legislation, where there is no legislation in place; gspp assists in minimum best practice guidance.

3 Organization Board The gspp system is managed by the board of the gspp Foundation. The composition is described in the articles of association. The Board consists of: an independent chairman without voting rights two board members appointed by Plantum, of which one board member is appointed by the Voedingstuinbouw Zaad division (Vegetable seed board). and one board member is appointed by the Voedingstuinbouw Opkweek division (Plant raiser board). one board member appointed by the Union Fran aise des Semenciers (French Association of Seed Companies). one board member appointed by the Syndicat Fran ais des Producteurs de Plants pour Professionnels. (French Association of Professional Plant Raisers). Each board member has an appointed substitute to replace the board member in case the board member is not able to attend a meeting or voting. The Board of the gspp Foundation decides on the Accreditation of Applicants and Participants and on the imposing of sanctions, and is responsible for and decides about proposed adjustments of the gspp Standard and its annexes and the procedures.

4 In this way, the gspp System will be further developed and improved over the years. The Board meets at least once a year and more often if it deems it necessary. The ITC is in General represented at the Board meetings. ITC. The ITC is a formal working group within the gspp Foundation which advises the Board on technical matters and interpretation of the Standard. The ITC. consists of an independent chairman and equal numbers of different experts from France and the Netherlands, and an equal number of experts from the seed industry and the plant raising industry. The Audit Organizations are advisors to the ITC. The ITC discusses the interpretation requests and the suggested improvements from the Audit Organizations, among others, and advises the Board of the gspp . Foundation about adjustments of the gspp Standard and annexes to the gspp . Standard and procedures. The ITC meets at least once a year and more often if it deems it necessary. gspp General Audit Regulations Page 2. I-14-1136.

5 gspp Participants A regular meeting of the gspp Foundation takes place with the accredited companies. One of the subjects to be discussed is improvement of the gspp . Standard. New standard documents are published for consultation on the website for a limited period of time on the closed part of the website; this gives gspp Participants the opportunity to comment on the development of the Standard. This meeting is organized once every 2 years in General . Scopes The gspp Standard consists of several Scopes that determine the process steps identified in the seed and plant production. An Applicant has to inform the gspp . Secretariat and the Audit Organization for which Scope(s) the company wants to be accredited. SCOPE # 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18. Sampling and/or testing of starting material Production of plants for seed production Production of plants for fruit production Interface (shipment of seeds with gspp - Interface (shipment of plants with gspp - Trading of seeds, issue the Collective Interface (shipment of starting material).))

6 Sampling and/or testing of seeds Seed treatment / enhancement Interface (shipment of plants). Interface (shipment of seeds). Interface (shipment of seeds). Interface (shipment of seeds). Interface (shipment of seeds). Interface (shipment of fruits). (Collective Trademark). Collective Trademark). Production of seeds Seed processing Trademark PROCESS. Extraction Figure Reference table indicating which processes are part of the scope of a gspp -Participant The explanation and boundaries of each Scope are explained as: 1 Sampling and/or testing of starting material: Sampling and/or testing of parent lines intended for multiplication or hybrid seed production as well as mother material of vegetative/tissue culture productions. Sampling must be performed according to the rules defined in annex Testing must be performed with an approved test protocol by a laboratory recognized by the gspp foundation. 2 Interface (shipment of starting material): Transport under gspp controlled measures of gspp starting material.

7 No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 3 Production of plant for seed production: gspp General Audit Regulations Page 3. I-14-1136. Production of tomato young plants intended for seed multiplication or hybrid seed production. Production of plants grown occurs in a protected green area. 4 Interface (shipment of plants): Transport under gspp controlled measures of plants grown under gspp . conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 5 Production of seeds: Production of fruits containing seeds on plants that have been grown in a green area. 6 Interface (shipment of fruits): Transport under gspp controlled measures of harvested fruits grown under gspp conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 7 Extraction: Extraction of seeds from harvested fruits and possible subsequent processes including fermentation and acid treatment. The scope end with dry seeds. 8 Interface (shipment of seeds): Transport under gspp controlled measures of seeds extracted under gspp . conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark.

8 9 Seed Processing: Processing of seeds, performed on dried seeds, processes can consist of cleaning of seeds, sizing, etc . It can be performed by the seed company, the seed producer, a sub- contractor or by a seed technology company. 10 Interface (shipment of seeds): Transport under gspp controlled measures of seeds processed under gspp . conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 11 Seed treatment / Enhancement: Seed treatment and/or enhancement can consist off (one of) the processes of coating, pelleting, priming. It can be performed by the seed company, the seed producer, or a seed technology company. 12 Interface (shipment of seeds): Transport under gspp controlled measures of seeds treated and/or enhanced under gspp conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 13 Sampling and/or testing of seeds: gspp General Audit Regulations Page 4. I-14-1136. Sampling and/or testing of seeds is compulsory in order to verify the efficiency of previous processes and before any shipment of seeds with the gspp logo.

9 Sampling must be performed according to the rules defined in annex Testing must be performed with an approved test protocol by a laboratory recognized by the gspp foundation. 14 Interface (shipment of seeds): Transport under gspp controlled measures of seeds sampled and/or tested under gspp conditions. No use of gspp Collective Trademark. 15 Trading of seeds, issue the Collective Trademark: Trading of seed includes the packing of seeds to be delivered with the gspp . logo, together with associated documents. It is performed by the seed company or seed distributor. The trading of seeds must be compliant with the Regulation of the use and supervision of the gspp collective trademark . The Regulations are available for gspp Participants or upon request of the applicant 16 Interface (shipment of seeds with gspp logo): Transport under gspp controlled measures of seeds marketed under gspp . conditions with application of gspp Collective Trademark. 17 Production of plants for fruit production: Production of tomato young plants for commercial tomato production purposes.

10 Plants are raised from gspp seed or in-vitro propagated material, grown under gspp accredited conditions. Young plants are being grown/raised in protected green areas. 18 Interface (shipment of plants with gspp Collective Trademark): Transport under gspp controlled measures of plants grown under gspp . conditions to commercial grower. Definition list On the website the latest version of Annex gspp Definitions is published. This list contains all definitions applicable to the Standard and its supporting documents/annexes. The definition list can contain some words, which have a specific gspp interpretation in comparison with the General description of that word. Words in the definitions list are written with capital letters in the gspp . documents. 2. gspp Process Application and Scope A General schematic description of the accreditation procedure is available on the website under Document, Miscellaneous documents for the gspp system, gspp General Audit Regulations Page 5. I-14-1136.