Learn About the ICS Internal Control System that Reassures Farmers and Consumers

... Even though organic produce labeled as organic on the market may give some consumers confidence in the absence of chemical contamination, many people doubt whether the entire production system, from upstream to downstream, is truly as safe as they claim.

There is one system hidden in farmers’ production processes, known as the “ICS Internal Control System” or Internal Control System. It is a set of regulations developed by a group of farmers to ensure that rice production meets organic standards. Members must conduct an internal inspection of each plot in order to confirm production safety and ensure consumers. Farmers who use the ICS internal control system can also apply for organic standard certification to increase their chances of selling their produce through a wider range of marketing channels, including Organic Thailand standards (Organic Thailand) and international organic standards such as IFOAM. The group of farmers with the ICS internal control system is thus very strong because it controls the quality of organic farming while also allowing farmers to improve their knowledge and skills in growing rice according to organic standards.

The Suthirat Foundation and the Salana Project also use an internal control system (ICS) based on the SALANA PGS standard to monitor, inspect, and certify specific groups of farmers who grow rice for the Salana Project. Salana will go down and inspect the group’s standards. If it is lower than the standard, changes will be recommended to raise the group’s standard to a higher level. When the farmer group met the internal control system standards established by the Salana PGS standard system, it passed successfully. The project will be able to confidently confirm that the Sala Na project's produce is safe and ready for human consumption.

However, if the eater is skeptical about organic produce, they can inspect the produce purchased from the farmer group, going back through every production process and following up on the group’s work system documents such as planning, amount of produce, distribution, and harvesting, or even proof of delivery. This system can answer all of the questions that people have.