Technical operation phases of Eleven Rivers

Training
The Civil Organization develops training programs intended for the technical personnel of participating growers and from independent organizations. Eleven Rivers® seeks, through these programs, that each trained person is able to understand and implement the 11RCS components: the purpose is generating replicating personnel to develop training programs in participating companies.

Diagnostics
The participating grower must pass through a phase of initial diagnosis, developed by an independent advisory organization: this participating grower must share the information about the processes developed within his agriculture production, packaging and shelter modules, in order to know the status of the compliance level of 11RCS.

The diagnosis identifies potential pollution risks in field and packaging facilities, analysis of occupational and environmental risks, among others; it also recommends the corrective actions to be implemented for a comprehensive compliance of the 11RCS.

Implementation
After the initial diagnosis, the Independent Advisory Organization develops and submits to the Applicant Growers, the most effective strategies in implementing the general requirements of food safety, documentation and process quality, traceability and compliance of social responsibility and environmental regulations, set out in the Eleven Rivers® standard.

We understand the implementation as the establishment, application or enforcement of a policy, a procedure, a plan, a program, or regulation necessary for a proper compliance of the 11RCS.

Technical advisory is developed according to the following steps:

1. Strategies to prevent, control and reduce the impact of hazards identified in the diagnosis are designed; an action plan is created for proper implementation.
2. During the application of the preventive, control and reduction action plans, the measures designed are applied, according to the needs of participating growers: corrective actions, procedure standardization, internal evaluations, procedure validation, supplier catalog, software, training, sampling, infrastructure design, traceability, control of supplies, inventories, etc.).
3. The effectiveness of the measures implemented in the action plan is evaluated and verified.
4. Participating growers get ready to receive and pass a certification audit.

Certification
The Civil Association receives notice from the independent advisory organization when a participating grower reaches the compliance level of the standard, after having developed the diagnostic and implementation phases.

The grower, while in the certification process, selects an independent certification organization, approved by the Civil Association, to perform the conformity evaluation, according to the procedures established in the operating regulations. If the audited participating grower reaches or exceeds the level of qualification required to approve the audit, then the Civil Association grants the Eleven Rivers® hallmark and allocates a verification organization to develop the continued compliance program.

During this phase, the grower changes his status to certified grower. Certification is valid for one year: starting from the date of issuance. After that year, the grower must renew the certification process.

Verification
One of the most relevant stages of the technical operation of the 11RCS is the continued compliance through weekly verifications visits. The Civil Association allocates an independent verification organization for certified growers, in order to ensure continuity and consistency in compliance.