THS KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
How will The Honey Standard certification work?
THS is developing a digital-first certification process for honey producers and packing facilities, based on the activities they carry out and evidence against the adopted requirements.
Start with the right scope
Describe your organisation, its sites and whether it produces, extracts, handles or packs honey. A business carrying out more than one activity should identify each relevant part of its operation.
The detailed requirements and scheme arrangements are still being developed. Portal registration and assessment preparation do not themselves establish certification.
Complete the assessment and relevant evidence
The intended process starts with a self-assessment against the requirements relevant to your scope. Answer each point clearly and link useful supporting material to the point it addresses.
Evidence should be proportionate. Naming the person responsible for compliance may need a straightforward answer. Records-based points, such as medication records or batch traceability, need the relevant records available for review. Uploading large quantities of unrelated files does not make an answer stronger.
Review, clarification and inspection
The proposed approach uses remote review where it provides sufficient assurance. Records, photographs and clarification can help explain an operation. An on-site assessment may be needed where the risk or unresolved evidence requires it.
An inspector’s assessment and the certification decision have different purposes. Findings need to be considered and resolved through the scheme’s adopted process; completing an inspection should not be described as automatic approval.
A checkable certification decision
Certification is intended to follow a decision against the adopted requirements and the defined scope. A public record should identify the organisation, activities, relevant sites and validity.
THS is developing arrangements to manage conflicts and separate commercial interests from certification decisions. Confirmed governance and decision arrangements will be published as they are adopted.
Maintain and check the record
The intended scheme includes ongoing assurance and a way to raise complaints or seek review of decisions. Final validity periods and reassessment arrangements will be set out in the published scheme rules.
When checking a certificate, use the current public register and read its scope. Demonstration or test records are not evidence of certification.
Explore further
Have a question or correction? Contact The Honey Standard.