Thanks for your reply. I have few more questions on this.
1. What is the difference between Food Chain ID Standard Ingredient Form and Food Chain ID Micro Ingredient Form?
2. How frequently do the auditors review these forms during the certification process?
3. Do all suppliers need to provide these forms or the one who is supplying the ingredients that are labeled as GMO free?
4. How long is the GMO free certification valid once it is granted and what is the process of renewal?
1. SIF applies to all categories of ingredients, while the Micro Ingredient affidavit is generally associated with high-risk ingredients that are more commonly produced with the use of microorganisms that are bio-engineered. Lots of fermented ingredients probably require it.
There are other high-risk affidavits for other testable and non-testable categories too, like agricultural crops (soy, corn, pineapple, etc.), and animal derived ingredients (dairy or collagen casing use of rGHB hormones, etc).
2. During certification 1-2 auditors will read every supporting document provided for each ingredient (and potentially, sub-ingredients). Each time the applicant has to add in new supporting materials, or changes the formulation of the product being reviewed there's a good chance a new auditor will be assigned from a pool of reviewers to re-evaluate it.
3. All ingredients (and sub-ingredients) of the product being certified will need supporting documentation. There are a few exceptions for inorganic mineral ingredients like salt, but they're still filling out the SIF.
4. A Non-GMO Project certification is renewed annually like most other food quality or safety and identity preserved certifications, and most of the affidavits will need to be renewed annually as well.