British Ornamental Plant Producers. Committed to Raising Standards

BOPP Certification - Standard selection

Pre-certification

Upon joining BOPP, new members will become pre-certification members (and will be issued with a unique BOPP membership number) as an indication of their intention to become certificated. As such, pre-certification members are permitted access to the help line, grower sample manuals, templates, guidance notes and the technical information on the members’ only section of the BOPP website in order to achieve BOPP certification. This period lasts for up to one year, during which time the member is required to create and implement the procedures necessary for successful evaluation and certification against one or more of the BOPP Standards detailed below.

1. Grower Standards

In order to demonstrate how the Scheme requirements have been addressed businesses need to produce their own nursery-specific manual based on a sample manual provided. The nursery manual will take into account individual nursery practices and customer demands but will comply with all the criteria of the Standard. The nursery manual needs to tie in with the appropriate nursery records and documentation. An annual third party site inspection validates the manual and records and ensures nursery compliance.

(a) The Continual Development Standard

The Continual Development Standard is designed for those businesses which do not need to be certificated against a UKAS accredited scheme but require advice to help develop business practices. As part of the inspection, constructive comments will be issued against each evaluation point to permit business development and each point will also be scored; fail or pass with the pass being scored at three levels of achievement.

(b) UKAS Certification Standard

The UKAS Certification Standard is designed for those businesses which need to be certificated against a UKAS accredited scheme. This Standard has also been officially benchmarked against the GlobalGAP Flower and Ornamentals Standard (ensuring this Standard equates to the GlobalGap Standard). The inspection is carried out by the Certification Body, which provides a pass or fail indication only (along with appropriate reasons for failure).

2. The Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standard

The BOPP Packhouse Standard is a UKAS accredited Scheme based on the British Retail Consortium Packhouse Standard. The Standard requires that the business has a quality management system in place summarised in a quality manual. An annual third party site inspection validates the manual and records and ensures business compliance.

3. The Growing Media Producers Standard

The BOPP Growing Media Producers Standard is based on the BOPP Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standard and is also UKAS accredited. The Standard requires that the business has a quality management system in place summarised in a quality manual. An annual third party site inspection validates the manual and records and ensures business compliance.

Additional certification against LEAF is also available.

Footnote for current members

Changes to the BOPP Scheme

The BOPP Scheme has recently undergone a major restructuring process. The Grower and Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standards have been revised with the changes being introduced from 1 January 2010. Copies of the revised documents are available for download from the BOPP Website following their launch at the BOPP AGM on 25 June 2009. In summary the new BOPP Scheme structure will be as follows:

Bronze membership will be replaced by a Pre-certification stage, but it will remain an introduction period during which new members work towards certification to their selected Standard. There will still be four BOPP Standards to choose from: two grower Standards - Continual Development Standard and UKAS Certification Standard, the Ornamental Horticulture Packhouse Standard and the Growing Media Producers Standard. The BOPP Certification Scheme Rules and Operating Procedures covering all the Standards have also been revised. Summaries of the changes to the Standards have been produced along with a revised BOPP Grower Sample Manual 2009 which is applicable to all crop types and covers both Grower Standards.