The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) has established an Assessment and Certification Framework to evaluate the products, projects, and services of providers against the Australian Farm Data Code (the Code).
A provider is defined in the Code as “any entity with a direct contractual relationship (written or verbal) with a farm business, which collects, interprets or manages farm data in the course of that relationship. Providers include but are not limited to: technology providers, research institutions, government bodies.” [Ref: Australian Farm Data Code, Edition 2”]
Only providers’ products, projects, or services can be assessed against the Code – providers as a whole cannot be assessed or certified. This is because a provider may have several products, projects, or services that have different data terms and policies associated with them, so they need to undergo separate assessments.
Products, projects, and services submitted by providers for assessment against the Code, receive a Summary Audit Report on how well they comply with the Code.
Farmers can view Summary Audit Reports in the Register of assessed and certified products, projects, and services.
Only provider products, projects, and services that comply 100% with the Code will be certified and able to use the Certification Mark.
Farmers can look out for the Certification Mark on providers’ products and promotional materials. The certification number on the Mark is unique to each product, project, or service, and can be used to look up Summary Audit Reports in the Register of assessed and certified products, projects, and services.
The NFF will:
The NFF does not:
The NFF is the peak national body representing farmers and, more broadly, agriculture across Australia. It is one of Australia’s foremost and respected advocacy organisations.
To review certification applications, the NFF has established a Certification Panel comprising farmers and independent legal and industry experts.
The current membership of the Certification Panel is:
Providers pay a fee for undergoing the assessment process for their products, projects, or services. Fees are set at a level to cover NFF’s costs for administrating the process.
The Assessment and Certification Framework will be regularly reviewed based on industry consultation and feedback.
During the Framework’s initial development, the Farm Data Working Group was the first point of consultation.
For ongoing reviews, community consultation on changes to the Framework will include certified providers, NFF members, agronomists, industry experts, technology providers, research institutions, and government.
The Certification Panel will decide the appropriate notice and grace period for compliance to the updated Assessment and Certification Framework, depending on the size and impact of the change.
Q: Why do we need certification against the Farm Data Code?
Certification is a simple way for farmers to know if service providers comply with the Farm Data Code. Certified products and services are listed here
Q: Why should a service provider get certified?
Q: How does the certification process work?
When a provider applies for certification they submit the required documents (such as Terms and Conditions and data policies) for the NFF to review. Submissions are assessed and then submitted to the Certification Panel for a decision on whether certification should be awarded.
Only providers who comply 100% with the Farm Data Code get certified.
All service providers who get assessed against the Code get an Audit Report, which are published here.
Q: What level of checking of providers’ data management practices is done by the NFF?
The NFF only has the capacity to perform a review of the documents submitted by the provider, to base certification decisions on. A full audit of what actually happens in the provider’s organisation and their systems is not able to be performed.
Q: What if the service provider doesn’t fully comply with the Farm Data Code?
Some providers may not meet the Farm Data Code 100%, but that is ok. The Farm Data Code sets the standard above transparency, to encourage minimum best practices around data management.
We don’t expect all providers to get 100% straight away, but we do expect providers to participate, get assessed, and improve their data management practices over time.
And several providers have already changed their Terms and Conditions to comply with the Farm Data Code, so this program is already benefiting farmers.
Q: What happens if a certified provider’s terms and conditions or data management practices change?
The rules of the program state that all actively participating providers that have been assessed and have an Audit Report published on the NFF’s website, need to immediately notify the NFF of any changes to: the product/project/service, terms or data management of the provider, or the provider’s policies that relate to the principles in the Code.
Providers are encouraged to proactively think about the requirements
Q: What are the penalties for a certified provider who breaches the Farm Data Code?
If a complaint is investigated and upheld, the NFF will suspend the provider’s certification and remove their Audit Report from register. Complaints can be made here
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