Definition and Principles of Internal Control Systems (ICSs)
An Internal Control System (ICS) is the part of a documented quality assurance system that allows an external certification body to delegate the periodical inspection of individual group members to an identified body or unit within the certified operator. This means that the third party certification bodies only have to inspect the well-functioning of the system, as well as to perform a few spot-check re-inspections of individual smallholders.

The rational behind ICSs for group certification is two-fold:

1) to facilitate smallholder certification i.e. simplify certification and reduce its cost for smallholders through coordinated documentation and
2) to implement and maintain a high quality assurance system for organic standards in smallholder production.

Group certification enables smallholders to access organic markets and enables developing countries to commercialize their products at the international level. ICSs also provide a good basis for sound quality systems to ensure organic quality and provide consumers of the North with imported organic products at reasonable cost.
IFOAM - International Federation of Organic Agriculture | info@ifoam.org