● Producer groups must be located within the same geographical region, have the same kind of product and similar production systems.
● In case the group is spread over a large region, it has to be subdivided in smaller groups
● Group certification makes sense only for groups from 15 members on; nevertheless, also smaller groups should feel encouraged to set up their own internal control system, independently from the percentage of external control by the certifier.
4．什么是生產商團體？
● 團體生產商不僅只合作、聯合或相似的組織，而且也指加工或經銷公司在他們的供應商組織為生產商團體。
● 生產商團體必須處在同一地區，有著相同類型的產品和相似的生產體系。
● 如果生產商團體拓展到更多地區域，就應該把它再細分為小生產團體。
● 團隊認證對有15個成員組成的團隊很有意義，然而，也應該鼓勵較小的團體建立自己內部的監督系統，并與認證機構的部控制那部分相獨立。

5. Internal control:
● As a basic requirement, all producers have to be controlled at least once per year by the internal inspectors.
● Internal inspectors must be adequately prepared for performing their job; we recommend training by our staff.
● Conflicts of interest must be avoided when selecting internal inspectors; nevertheless, we recognise that situations may exist, where consultants will have to do the internal inspections