Supplier Qualification (Preliminary Assessment)
De-risks the entire supply chain by validating the supplier's capability before commercial commitments are made.
Why It Matters
Without a preliminary assessment buyers face "blind imports" where real product quality is discovered only upon arrival in Europe, often too late. This Phase de-risks the entire supply chain by validating the supplier's capability before commercial commitments are made.
STEPS
Operational Steps
01
Desktop Review
The buyer shares core supplier information, our consultant performs a preliminary desktop review to confirm licensing status, assess basic suitability, and identify obvious red flags before allocating on-site audit resources.
02
On-Site Audit
A Clear auditor conducts a 1–2 day on-site visit to verify that actual operations align with what is declared on paper.
03
The 4 Pillars
The on-site audit focuses on four core areas that define export readiness: facility controls, documentation and traceability, operational practices from cultivation to post-harvest, and staff competence and hygiene.
04
Reporting
Audit results are formally documented in a structured assessment report, including non-conformity classification, severity assessment, and supporting evidence, leading to a clear supplier qualification outcome.
Qualification Outcomes
Approved for Export
The facility meets CCS and EU-GACP requirements with no critical non-conformities identified.
The supplier is approved to proceed and can move directly to batch-level verification.
Conditionally Approved
The facility shows limited, manageable gaps that do not compromise overall compliance.
Approval is granted subject to corrective actions, typically addressed through a focused compliance implementation phase.
Not Approved
Significant non-compliance has been identified, affecting product safety, traceability, or structural integrity.
The supplier cannot proceed until critical issues are resolved through a full remediation and system implementation process.
