FARMERS
Apply for NZFAP Plus
THE NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
1. Apply
Complete the NZFAP Plus application form. To become NZFAP Plus certified, you'll first need to be NZFAP certified, but you can apply for both at the same time.
2. Membership
A Member Company accepts you as a supplier and you become a Member of NZFAP Plus.
3. Work-on
Work towards meeting the Standard. Request and complete your audit when you’re ready. This must be done within three (3) years.
4. Pre-audit checklist
Request an audit and complete and return your pre-audit checklist within 60 days (needed before your audit can be booked).
5. Audit
Covers all the NZFAP Plus requirements. Unless you’ve had an NZFAP audit in the last six months, a full NZFAP audit will be done at the same time.
6. Certification
Confirmation of NZFAP Plus certification, once any corrective action requests (CARs) issued have been closed (within 30 days of audit).
7. Upgrade to Gold within three months
If you’ve achieved Silver certification, you may also be eligible to upgrade to Gold (conditions apply).
8. Re-certification
Within three (3) years, you'll be re-audited, to maintain your NZFAP Plus certification.
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
1-2. Application and Membership
Start by completing the NZFAP Plus application form and sending it to your nominated NZFAP Plus Member Company(s) or to nzfap@nzfai.org.nz *
Once you’ve been accepted by the Member Company(s), your NZFAP Plus membership will be confirmed. You can then either request an audit or work towards meeting the Standard and then request an audit when you’re ready (within 36 months).
Remember, this is a continuous improvement programme and it’s very much about working through this in your own time, within the three-year timeframe.
*You’ll need to be NZFAP certified to join this programme, but you can apply for both certifications at the same time.
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
3-4. Getting ready for audit
Whichever route you choose, you’ll need to be audited within three years of becoming a Member of NZFAP Plus. You request an audit through your NZFAP Plus Member Company, who will coordinate with our independent audit provider.
Before your audit can be booked, you’ll need to complete a short NZFAP Plus pre-audit checklist to complete. This will give your Member Company(s) confidence that you’ve considered all the requirements under NZFAP Plus ahead of your audit and help identify any areas where you might need support. You’ll need to complete and return your pre-audit checklist within 60 days of it being sent.
Note: Once you’ve completed and returned your checklist and your Member Company has approved your audit request, you’ll need to complete your audit within two months. Our independent audit provider will be in touch to arrange an audit date.
People
People management and employment
Health, safety, and wellbeing
Environment
Farm Infrastructure Map(s)
Natural Resources Map(s)
Land and Freshwater Management Action Plan
Freshwater management
Stock exclusion
Nutrient management and soil health
Management of grazing pasture during winter
Management of forage crops during winter
Indigenous biodiversity
Greenhouse gases and climate change
Biosecurity
Planning & documentation
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
5. Audit
Your audit will cover all the requirements of the NZFAP Plus programme (Silver and Gold). Unless you’ve had an NZFAP audit within the last six (6) months, a full NZFAP re-certification audit will be carried out at the same time.
Any Silver requirements that aren’t met at audit will be issued with a corrective action request (CAR), and a timeframe set by which you’ll need to resolve the issue and/or provide evidence that the requirement has been met. Certification will only be issued once all CARs have been closed (meaning all requirements have been met).
If you’re aiming for Silver certification and are very close to meeting the Gold Standard, your auditor might issue a ‘recommendation’, so you know what needs to be done to achieve NZFAP Plus Gold certification, should you decide to work towards that in the future.
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
6. Certification
To achieve NZFAP Plus Silver certification, you’ll need to meet all the NZFAP Plus Silver requirements (you’ll also need to meet all these requirements to achieve Gold certification).
To be NZFAP Plus Gold certified, you’ll need to meet both NZFAP Plus Silver and NZFAP Plus Gold requirements.
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
7. Upgrade to Gold
If, at the end of your audit, you have fewer than five improvements to be eligible for Gold certification, and you forward satisfactory evidence within three months of your audit that you’re meeting the requirement, your certification will be upgraded to NZFAP Plus Gold. Outside that time limit, you’ll need another full audit to be upgraded.
NZFAP PLUS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
8. Re-certification
To maintain your NZFAP Plus certification, you'll be audited every three years (remember, you'll also need to ensure your NZFAP certification remains current to retain your NZFAP Plus certification).
Around 120 days ahead of the three-year (36-month) anniversary of your last audit, you’ll be sent a reminder, together with a link to the NZFAP Plus pre-audit checklist. While completing the checklist isn’t a re-certification requirement, it’s a useful way to work through the requirements and confirm that you have everything ready before your auditor visits.
Our independent audit provider will also get in touch with you at least 60 days ahead of your audit anniversary.
To ensure you maintain continuous certification, you'll need to complete your re-certification audit at least 30 days prior to your certification expiry date.
General enquiries:
Email: info@nzfap.com
New Zealand Farm Assurance Incorporated
Registered office:
Level 1
231 Middleton Road
Glenside
Wellington 6037
New Zealand