Becoming Certified
This page explains how you apply for Plant Healthy certification and what to expect at each stage of the process. It guides you through preparing for an audit, choosing a Certification Body, understanding the costs, and becoming certified, so you know what to do, when to do it, and where to find support along the way.
Before you apply
Before contacting a Certification Body, it’s important to check whether you are ready for an audit. Plant Healthy provides a range of information to help you prepare for your audit and maintain the required standards.
No matter how much (or how little) you already know about plant health risks, we recommend starting with the Plant Healthy Self-Assessment. This helps you to:
- Check your current policies, procedures and practices against the Plant Health Management Standard
- See what you already do well
- Identify any gaps you may need to address before an audit
You can also use the Self-Assessment and the free to download report, to track your progress over time and decide when you are ready to book an audit.
Additionally, Plant Healthy provides online training modules to support you.
Certification Bodies
There are two appointed Certification Bodies that provide auditing and certification services for the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme. You can contact the Certification Bodies here.
How to apply for Plant Healthy certification
To become Plant Healthy certified, you apply through an appointed Certification Body. These organisations are independent, not-for-profit bodies approved to assess businesses against the Plant Health Management Standard.
Plant Healthy does not carry out audits itself. Certification is delivered through independent bodies to ensure the process is fair, consistent and robust. Each body has its own panel of qualified auditors who produce the audit reports. The Certification Body then carries out an additional technical review of the findings to ensure consistency.
Plant Healthy also uses the services of an independent compliance consultant to ensure the Scheme rules are adhered to by the Certification Bodies.
How the certification process works
The certification process follows these 4 simple steps.
Step 1
Complete the Self-Assessment to check your readiness
Step 2
Choose a Certification Body and apply for certification
Step 3
Arrange an audit, carried out by a trained, independent assessor
Step 4
Receive certification once all requirements are met
Your chosen Certification Body will guide you through the process and explain what is needed at each stage.
Understanding the costs
There are two main costs:
a) Scheme membership fee
- Based on the turnover of your business or organisation
- Current fees are listed on the website
b) Audit cost
- Paid directly to your chosen Certification Body
- Covers the auditor’s time, travel and report writing
- There are currently two approved Certification Bodies: Grown in Britain and NSF.
- You can ask either, or both, for a quote
When applying, you will need to include information about the scope of your enterprise. This means:
- All the sites where you operate
- What your enterprise does
Once booked, your audit will take place within 60 days. Try to choose a time when normal activity is happening, so the auditor can see your range of processes in action.
After booking your audit, your business or organisation will appear in the Plant Healthy Certification Scheme directory of certified members as an applicant. At this stage, you must not yet claim to be Plant Healthy certified.
Preparing for an audit
By the time of your audit, you should have:
- All required policies and procedures in place and documented
- Records and documents up to date
- Risk assessments completed
- Physical facilities ready
Shortly before the audit, the auditor may ask for copies of some documents to review in advance.
Additionally, Plant Healthy provides guides and templates to help you prepare. These are available in the Resources section.
Becoming Certified FAQs
To help the day run smoothly:
- Have documents and records ready and easy to access
- Make sure relevant staff are available and aware of the audit
- Provide a suitable space to meet the auditor
On the day, the auditor will:
- Review your documents, records and risk assessments
- Talk through your policies and procedures
- Tour your site(s) to see what you do in practice
You will receive initial feedback on the day. A full written report will follow shortly afterwards.
The audit report will confirm whether:
- You have met all requirements, or
- There are issues that need correcting
All of the Plant Health Management Standard’s requirements must be met to gain certification.
After your first audit, you have 60 days to address any issues and provide evidence. Once the auditor and Certification Body are satisfied, you will:
- Receive confirmation of certification
- Be listed as a Plant Healthy certified member in the Scheme directory
Once certified, you will receive:
- Your numbered certificate
- A media pack with the Plant Healthy logo and guidance on how to use it
You are encouraged to promote your certification:
- On your website and social media
- On your site and signage
- With customers, suppliers and trade bodies
- Through events or open days
Plant Healthy can also help you with wording for signs, flyers and other materials.
Certification shows that you take plant health threats seriously and are actively protecting your business, your customers and the environment.
We maintain a wide range of resources to help with adopting good practice, becoming certified, applying the Standard in different sectors, keeping up to date, and continuous improvement. Our News and Events pages also provide updates and details of supporting and networking activities.
You will also need to carry out your own internal audit at least once a year to check your procedures are working.
Do you need further help?
If you have questions about the certification process, please contact Plant Healthy via the link below.