Full text of the Interim Provisions of Chongqing Municipality on the Administration of Pollution-Free Vegetable Certification

Article 1 These Interim Provisions are formulated in accordance with Article 7 of the Measures of Chongqing Municipality for the Administration of Pollution-Free Vegetables.
Article 2 The certification of pollution-free vegetables referred to in these Interim Provisions means the evaluation of the environmental conditions of vegetable production and the quality and safety of vegetable products.
Pollution-free vegetable certification is divided into vegetable base certification and vegetable product certification.
Certified pollution-free vegetable bases and pollution-free vegetable products may use the special pollution-free vegetable mark.
Article 3 The special pollution-free vegetable mark is a certification mark proving that a vegetable base or vegetable product has reached the pollution-free vegetable standard.
The special pollution-free vegetable mark consists of text, graphics and a code.
Article 4 The Chongqing Municipal Agriculture Bureau is responsible for the approval and supervisory administration of pollution-free vegetable certification throughout the municipality. The agricultural administrative departments of districts and counties (autonomous counties and cities) are responsible for the examination and supervisory administration of pollution-free vegetable certification within their respective administrative areas.
Article 5 Pollution-free vegetable certification is subject to voluntary application. Any vegetable producer or operator within the administrative area of this municipality may apply for pollution-free vegetable certification.
Article 6 To apply for pollution-free vegetable base certification, the following conditions shall be met
(1) The environment of the production base meets the environmental requirements for pollution-free vegetable production areas;
(2) Production is organized in accordance with the technical specifications for pollution-free vegetable production;
(3) The products meet the quality standards for pollution-free vegetable products;
(5) The scale of commercial vegetable production reaches 30 hectares or more.
Article 7 To apply for pollution-free vegetable product certification, the following conditions shall be met
(1) The products meet the quality standards for pollution-free vegetable products;
(2) The production site and environment shall be clean and hygienic, and meet the environmental requirements for pollution-free vegetable production areas or the provisions of relevant laws and regulations;
(3) There are corresponding pollution-free vegetable monitoring means and personnel, and a sound quality management system is established;
(4) There is a certain production scale and volume of commercial products.
Article 8 To apply for pollution-free vegetable certification, the following materials shall be submitted to the agricultural administrative department of the district or county (autonomous county or city) where the applicant is located:
(1) The Application Form for Pollution-Free Vegetable Certification (in triplicate).
(2) Relevant test reports issued by an agricultural environmental monitoring institution and a vegetable quality monitoring institution with legal qualifications at or above the provincial level; or relevant test reports issued by other pollution-free vegetable testing institutions certified by the Chongqing Municipal Agriculture Bureau in conjunction with relevant municipal departments.
Environmental test reports are valid for three years, and vegetable product quality test reports are valid for one year.
(3) The pollution-free vegetable quality management system.
Article 9 Applications for pollution-free vegetable certification shall be handled according to the following procedures:
(1) Within 15 working days from the date of receipt of the application materials, the agricultural administrative department of the district or county (autonomous county or city) shall complete the examination of the application materials, sign its examination opinion, and report to the Municipal Agriculture Bureau.
(2) Within 30 working days from the date of receipt of the examination opinion, the Municipal Agriculture Bureau shall complete the certification work. For those that meet the conditions, it shall issue the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality; for those that do not meet the conditions, it shall return the materials to the agricultural administrative department of the district or county (autonomous county or city) and notify the applicant in writing.
Article 10 Only after the applicant has obtained the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality may it use the special pollution-free vegetable mark on its products, product packaging, advertisements, signs or product descriptions.
Article 11 The use of the mark is limited to the vegetable bases and vegetable products approved in the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality, and the user may not expand the scope of use of the mark at will.
Article 13 Products using the special pollution-free vegetable mark must have appropriate packaging and be accompanied by a certificate of origin, or the packaging shall indicate the place of origin, manufacturer, product name, production date and other particulars.
Article 14 The municipal and district or county (autonomous county or city) agricultural administrative departments have the right to supervise and inspect the vegetable bases and products using the mark as well as their production environment and production process, and the relevant personnel shall cooperate.
Article 15 The term of use of the special pollution-free vegetable mark is three years. Those who need to continue using the mark shall reapply for certification two months before the expiry of the term of use. Those who fail to reapply for certification shall be deemed to have automatically given up.
Article 16 Under any of the following circumstances, the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality shall be revoked and the use of the special pollution-free vegetable mark shall be terminated.
(1) Failing to conduct production in accordance with the Technical Specifications for Pollution-Free Vegetable Production after obtaining the mark;
(2) Having two unqualified products in random inspections during the validity period of the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality;
(3) The production environment failing to comply with the Technical Conditions for the Environment of Pollution-Free Vegetable Production Areas;
(4) Transferring the special pollution-free vegetable mark to others for use without authorization;
(5) Using the mark beyond the scope approved in the Certificate for the Use of the Special Mark for Pollution-Free Vegetables of Chongqing Municipality;
(6) Causing serious consequences due to a product quality accident;
(7) The user of the mark declaring bankruptcy, being merged, amalgamated, transferred or renamed.
Article 17 Where force majeure factors cause the temporary loss of the conditions for using the special pollution-free vegetable mark, the use of the mark shall be suspended. To resume the use of the mark, the user shall report to the Municipal Agriculture Bureau for approval.
Article 18 Testing institutions and testing personnel shall be responsible for the test reports they issue and shall keep the applicant's product technical secrets confidential in accordance with the law
Article 19 The use of the special pollution-free vegetable mark on inputs required for vegetable production such as pesticides, fertilizers and agricultural films shall be implemented with reference to the relevant provisions above.
Article 20 These Measures shall be interpreted by the Chongqing Municipal Agriculture Bureau.
Article 21 These Measures shall come into force on April 1, 2002.