Voluntary certifications
In some European countries it is possible to apply voluntary certifications and brands besides the certification under Reg. (CEE) 834/07.
EU Regulation allows private and national brands as far as related use conditions and certifications don't cause barriers to free market.
Germany
Great Britain
Switzerland
France
Sweden
Germany
Bio Siegel is the national logo used since 2001 by Germany to recognise organic productions.
Operators marketing in Germany organic products complying with the Community Law in force, can affix the “Bio Siegel” logo on their products, therefore, it can be affixed on products certified by ICEA.
For processed products it’s possible to use “Bio Siegel” logo only when at least 95% of the total ingredients from agricultural origin are organic.
Operators who want to use this logo have to fill and to send a notification application to “Bio Siegel” info centre (www.bio-siegel.de) by mail, e-mail or by fax.
The operator will receive a login by e-mail, to be used to update the list of products on which “Bio Siegel logo” will be affixed. When an operator begins to use this logo, it becomes mandatory to respect the directives issued by the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) www.bio-siegel.de
Naturland is one of the main association on ecological culture in Germany. Processors operating under Naturland apply to more severe standards than those described by EU regulation. Naturland standards include requirements of social responsibility.
Naturland brand, differently from the Bio Spiegel, is requested in smaller and more selective commercial networks.
ICEA is one of the few Italian control bodies allowed to carry out inspections relevant to the issue of certification and brand release, which must be requested directly to the German office of the association (www.naturland.de).
Operators who are already certified by ICEA against IFOAM accredited, are already complying to many Naturland requirements and can have easy access to this certification.
Great Britain
Soil Association is the main organic certification body of the United Kingdom and products marked with its logo are very well known and appreciated on the British market, thanks to the high level of guarantee offered.
An operator who wants to put this logo on products intended to British market, has to comply to (EC) Reg. 834/07, to follow the product acceptance procedure provided by Soil Association, and to require to Soil Association itself (www.soilassociation.org/international) the application form and the related standards which contain additional requirements to EU regulations for some kind of productions.
ICEA is a control body recognized by Soil Association and, upon its request, will carry out the necessary inspections to verify the respect of these specific standards.
Check-lists and documents related to inspections will be sent to Soil Association directly by ICEA.
Operators who are already certified by ICEA against IFOAM accredited, are already complying to many Soil Association requirements and can have easy access to this certification.
Torna su
BioSuisse is a no profit organization which represents swiss “bud” producers' and licensees' interests.
BioSuisse has developed specific guidelines for organic products marketed in Switzerland and has registered the “Bud/BioSuisse” brand to distinguish those products.
To export products with Bio Suisse brand to Switzerland it is necessary to demonstrate to have a potential Swiss importer, because only the importer can become a licensee of Bio Suisse and put the "Bud" brand on the products.
Moreover, to export organic products to Switzerland it is necessary to respect EU Regulation, national laws in force and the additional requirements described in the Bio Suisse guidelines, available on www.bio-suisse.ch, and to be inspected by an authorized control body. Coop Swiss normally buys only products complying with Bio Suisse guidelines, while MIGROS asks only for compliance to (CE)Reg. 834/07, recognized as equivalent by law in Swiss Confederation.
ICEA is an organization authorized to verify the compliance of products to Bio Suisse guidelines, and an operator who wants to apply, has to sent a written request to our regional offices, that will provide to send him the necessary documents, to carry out the inspection, and send the checklist directly to Bio Suisse.
The operator will receive a letter of recognition from Bio Suisse as a compliance confirmation. This process has to be repeated every year.
“AB” brand (Agriculture Biologique) is a property of the French Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Fishing and Rural Development.
This brand may be requested by French clients to distinguish organic agricultural products, since 65% of the French consumers recognize organic products from this logo on the package (research by INRA/Gret/Agence Bio, 2003).
Organic producers who want to put this logo on their products (also Italian) have to fill, subscribe and send Annex IV of the regulation of use of the AB mark to ICEA Bologna (fax 051.232011; icea@icea.info), and Annex V to Agence BIO - Marque AB- 6 rue Lavoisier- 93100 MONTREUIL; tel: 0148704830, Fax:0148704845; contact@agencebio.org, www.agencebio.org, enclosing an executive draft of the label and/or other materials bearing the AB logo.
Applying operators have to respect (in addition to national and Community law) requirements set on page 13 of the annex regulation.
Regarding agricultural products and animal husbandry there are not additional or different requirements from those set in (CE)Reg 834/07 or in (CE)Reg 889/08.
Processed goods (food or fodder) can expose this brand only when containing a percentage of organic agricultural ingredients over 95% (same condition to use UE logo).
About wine, waiting for the completion and harmonization of EU legislation, AB brand can be used when accompanied by a clear, legible and prominent writing “wine made with grapes from organic agriculture” or “wine from organic grapes”. Same rules are applied to vinegar. Also in France, both for wine and vinegar, it’s not allowed to use the EU logo.
Concerning animal products non yet regulated by EU regulation, they have to be obtained in compliance with a specific national standard: “chaier des charges français” (30.08.2000).
It is possible to affix this logo also on pet food that respect the national standard (16.02.2004), but it has to contain more than 95% of raw materials of agricultural origin.
Compliance to these requisites will be verified by ICEA and by public French Authority (Agence Bio).
Torna su
Krav is the main organic certification body of Sweden, and products marked with its logo are very well known and appreciate on the Swedish market thanks to the high level of guarantee offered.
An operator who wants to supply raw materials and/or finished products to Swedish operators certified by Krav, or who wants to put directly the KRAV logo on his products for this market (becoming foreign licensees), has to comply to (CE) Reg. 834/07 , to respect any other additional requirement of Krav's standard, available on www.krav.se, and has to subscribe the necessary agreements with Swedish customers and/or directly with Krav.
ICEA is a control body recognized by Krav and, upon its request, will carry out the necessary inspections to verify the respect of these specific standards and the correct use of Krav logo (regulations can be downloaded from the website).
Check-lists and documents related to inspections will be sent to Krav by ICEA.
Operators who are already certified by ICEA against IFOAM accredited, are already complying to many Krav requirements and can have easy access to this certification.
Responsabile per le certificazioni volontarie:
Dott. Alessandro Pulga
dir@icea.info