Integrated Plant Production

General information
Benefits
PCA accreditation
CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
List of IPR manufacturers' certificates

Basic information about Integrated Plant Production

The system of Integrated Plant Production makes it possible to obtain agricultural crops with the highest biological and nutritional values and safe for human health. Plant products are subjected to strict inspections for residues of plant protection products, fertilizers and other substances hazardous to health.

A similarly important issue as food safety is the promotion of environmental protection. Unfortunately, the intensification of agricultural production creates a huge threat to the surrounding nature. Integrated Plant Production takes into account ecological goals such as, protection of the agricultural landscape and biodiversity. The basis of the system of Integrated Production is properly selected elements such as correct crop rotation and agrotechnology, rational fertilization based on the actual needs of plants, and the use of plant protection products in justified situations, which pose the least possible threat to human and animal health and the environment. Fruits, vegetables and other agricultural crops certified under Integrated Plant Production are not only attractive in appearance, but also have high quality qualities.

For more information about the Integrated Plant Production system, visit MRiRW.

PIP methodologies available for download at PIORiN.

All activities carried out in IP crops must be documented in an Integrated Plant Production notebook, which can be downloaded at MRiRW.

Lists of plant protection products for Integrated Production are available for download at Internet Agrophage Signaling System.

Who is this system for? -

Any interested producer can apply for certification of Integrated Plant Production.

What does the certification process look like? +

How much does certification cost? +

Are there additional costs added at a later stage of certification? +

How long is the certificate valid? +

Where can I check the validity of the certificate? +

Benefits of obtaining an IPR certificate:

Marketing benefits resulting from the sale of food of officially certified quality, both in the domestic market and in the markets of third countries (China, Vietnam).
Implementation of IPR at the present time guarantees the fulfillment of the mandatory requirement to introduce the principles of integrated plant protection.
Certification in the IPR system allows the possibility of applying for direct subsidies.
Implementation of IP on the farm confirms the fulfillment of requirements relating to food safety.
IPR also allows the fulfillment, to a large extent, of food safety and environmental protection requirements under other commercial quality systems required, for example, by large-scale retail chains.

Certifications of national quality systems such as Integrated Plant Production and Regional and Traditional Products are carried out on the basis of accreditation by the Polish Accreditation Center No. AC 176, which QA Solutions obtained on 07/03/2014.

Full scope of accreditation can be checked at PCA.

I. CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (effective 21.04.2023)

1. Acceptance of Application

QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. shall provide all necessary information to persons interested in the certification of Integrated Plant Production before submitting the Application to join the certification of Integrated Plant Production (application available at www.qasolutions.pl). A fee is charged for the inspection activities carried out on the basis of the Price List of fees for carrying out the process of certification of Integrated Plant Production (price list available on the website www.qasolutions.pl).

The application from the Producer is accepted no later than 30 days before sowing or planting plants, or - in the case of perennial plants - by March 1 each year. Notification may be accepted by mail (the date of notification is the postmark date) or electronically (e-mail to: info@qasolutions.pl). None of them are discriminated against. The application is accepted on the form Application to join the certification of Integrated Plant Production with an attachment: a copy of the certificate of completion of training in Integrated Plant Production or a copy of other documents confirming compliance with these requirements.

An employee of QA Solutions Ltd. analyzes the submitted documentation. In the case of an incomplete application/request, he sends a call for completion with a specified deadline for completion of data.

After receiving complete documentation, an employee of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. enters the data of the Producer in the Register, the number of the Producer in the Register is assigned. The entity applying for a certificate is immediately informed about it.

Based on the information contained in the application, an employee of the Certification Body constructs a Certification Agreement, which is provided to the Manufacturer for signature.

In the event that the Agreement is not approved by signature, the certification process is discontinued and the Producer's data is removed from the Register.

2. Inspection at the farm

The farm is subject at least once a year, at a date agreed with the Producer, to an inspection by an inspector of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. regarding compliance with the principles of Integrated Plant Production. QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. may order sampling for testing, in accordance with the applicable risk assessment of the inspection, or conduct an additional follow-up inspection for sampling at the optimal time. The decision on sampling is also made by the Inspector during the inspection activities.

Inspection at the farm is carried out in accordance with the Inspection Plan.

The producer within the framework of the inspection is obliged to:

allow inspections and provide access to documents related to the conduct of Integrated Plant Production,
allow samples to be taken for testing for the presence of nitrates and nitrites, heavy metals and residues of plant protection products,
conduct production according to the methodology approved by the Chief Inspector of the Inspectorate of Plant Protection and Seed Inspection posted on the website of PIORiN and is documented on an ongoing basis in the Notebook of Integrated Plant Production in accordance with the Regulation of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of June 24, 2013 on documenting activities related to Integrated Plant Production (Dz. U. of 2018, item 1310 as amended to this regulation),
fulfill all mandatory requirements (for each certified species) and basic requirements, a minimum of 50% of additional requirements (evaluated for each certified species), and a minimum of 20% of recommendations from the certification body's checklist (Checklist available upon request from the Producer).

The on-site inspector after the inspection shall prepare an Inspection Report, which shall be submitted to the Producer or authorized person for signature.

The Producer has the right to file an appeal to the Protocol within 7 days from the date of its preparation.

After the inspection, the Producer receives a VAT invoice issued in accordance with the applicable Price List of fees for conducting the process of certification of Integrated Plant Production (price list available at www.qasolutions.pl). The Producer is obliged to pay the fee by the date specified on the VAT invoice.

After receiving the complete documentation and evaluation, an employee of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. prepares a Documentation Verification Report, in which the Producer is informed about the results of the inspection. The results of the laboratory tests are made available to the Producer upon request (in case samples were taken).

3. Issuance of the certificate

The certificate is issued after the issuance of the Documentation Verification Report for the period necessary for the disposal of the plants, but no longer than for a period of 12 months counting from the date of its issuance.

4. Refusal to issue a certificate

In the case of a decision not to issue a certificate, QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. reminds the Producer of the possibility of appealing the decision or requesting a re-evaluation within 30 days of receipt of the Documentation Verification Report, after removal of non-conformities found during the inspection. The request sent from the Manufacturer should include information on how to remove nonconformities.

II. PRINCIPLES FOR MARKING PRODUCTS

After the issuance of the certificate, the Manufacturer has the right to mark its products with the IP logo in accordance with the Legal Regulations and information contained in the Certification Agreement (file).

III. SUPERVISION

In order to maintain the validity of the issued certificate, the Producer:

document on an ongoing basis the sale of products covered by the certificate,
use the IP mark in accordance with legal regulations,
apply on an ongoing basis all requirements arising from the methodology of Integrated Plant Production,
at the request of the Certification Body QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. will make the documentation available and allow an unannounced supervisory inspection.

Supervision of certified Producers is carried out by the Certification Body QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. through supervisory inspections. Inspections are carried out after the issuance of the certificate during its validity period, in order to confirm the conduct of activities in accordance with the requirements of Integrated Plant Production.

Supervisory inspections are carried out in min. 2% of farms certified for Integrated Plant Production issued by QA Solutions Ltd. where the highest level of risk has been identified. Selection of farms for surveillance inspection is made on the basis of risk assessment. For Producers with the same level of risk, the selection is made at random.

IV. CERTIFICATE SUSPENSION

In cases:

detection during inspection in supervision of non-fulfillment of the requirements for Integrated Plant Production,
receipt of information from the market or from the authority overseeing food safety about non-fulfillment of the requirements in the scope of Integrated Plant Production,
receipt of information regarding non-fulfillment of the requirements for Integrated Plant Production that may affect product safety,

The CEO of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. or the Director of Certification decides to suspend the certificate. The Agricultural Certification Specialist sends to the Manufacturer a letter approved by the President of the Board of Directors of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. or the Director of Certification containing information on the actions needed to end the suspension and reinstate the certificate, as well as the deadline for the implementation of these actions.

Suspension of the certificate may apply to the entire document or parts of it (individual plant varieties). In the case of suspension of the certificate, the Producer may not use the IP mark and is removed from the database of issued certificates located on the website www.qasolutions.pl.

If the Producer realizes the actions needed to restore the certificate, he may apply for a reassessment of the farm by sending an application to the Certification Body.

In case of a positive decision by the President of the Board of Directors of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. after re-evaluation of the farm, the certificate is suspended and the data of the Producer are entered into the database of issued certificates.

V. REVOCATION AND CHANGE OF CERTIFICATE

In case of:

appearance of basic nonconformity (impossible to remove by the Producer) during the supervisory inspection,
failure to take the actions needed to restore the certificate in the case of suspension of the certificate,
receipt of information from the market or from the food safety authority about the non-fulfillment of requirements (impossible to remove) in the field of Integrated Plant Production,

Agricultural Specialist. Certification in Agriculture prepares a Decision on withdrawal of the certificate, which is approved by the President of the Board of Directors of QA Solutions Sp. z o.o. or the Director of Certification.

In case of withdrawal of the entire document, the Producer is called in the decision to return the certificate and prohibit the use of the IP mark. The Producer is deleted from:

Registry of issued Certificates,
information about the Producer posted on the website www.qasolutions.pl.

If non-conformities occurred with respect to individual varieties and not the entire species, the Producer is called in the decision to return the certificate. The Certification Body shall issue a new certificate with the same number for the remaining varieties.

The Certification Body shall update the Register of issued certificates and information about the Producers available on the website (www.qasolutions.pl).

VI. APPEALS AND COMPLAINTS

All appeals and complaints are accepted on the Complaints and Appeals Sheet (sheet available at www.qasolutions.pl). The time limit for processing an appeal/complaint is 7 days. In the event that it is necessary to take additional measures (e.g., taking samples for laboratory tests) that make it impossible to consider the case within the specified time limit, the appellant/complainant will be informed of this in writing.

The decision on appeals/complaints shall be communicated to the appellant in writing, together with the reasons for the decision. The person shall be informed of the possibility of appealing the decision.

VII. CONFIDENTIALITY

Persons participating in the certification process shall ensure the confidentiality of all information related to the certification procedure and shall certify this by signing relevant documents.

List of IPR Producer Certificates

The validity of the certification and the yields included on the certificate certifying the use of Integrated Plant Production in accordance with Article 57 point 6a of the Law on Plant Protection Products (Journal of Laws of 2020, item 2097, as amended) can be checked as follows:

From the files available below, select the appropriate year and download the list. Search for the region in which you are looking for certified farms.

Year 2024 (Updated as of: 31/01/2025)

Year 2023

Year 2022

Detailed certificate details possible to check in certificate finder. To check the certified yields of the selected farm, enter the certificate number or the producer's name in the "name or certificate number" field in the search engine located on the right side with the heading "FIND CERTIFICATE"