Glossary of organic logos
Glossary of Ecolabel Logos
Glossary of International Certification Logos
Organic certifying bodies:
If you are serious about organic products, you need to choose or check a certifier logo on organic and biodynamic products or who claims that the products produced organically. These certifier bodies provide certification services to operators from all sectors of the organic industry.
Certification ensures compliance with national production standards and allows traceback of all products to their origin.
All certifiers’ certification program and protocols must be approved and accredited by related authorities of the countries that the products produced. Some examples of these authorities are:
- The US Department of Agriculture, USDA
- Department of Agriculture & Water Resources, Australia
- Minister for Agriculture Forestry & Fisheries, Japan
- International Organic Accreditation Service (IOAS)
- International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
The Certifiers logos may carry with the ability to market organic produce on both domestic and international markets. The logo should be recognised in any country that provides this service.
in a simple diagram:
At the moment, eighty (80) certifying agents are USDA-accredited and authorized to certify operations to the USDA organic standards. Of these, 48 are based in the U.S. and 32 are based in foreign countries. Most certifying agents are directly accredited by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). Twenty-one additional certifying agents are authorized through recognition agreements between the U.S. and foreign governments.
Each of these certifying agents is authorized to issue an organic certificate to operations that comply with the USDA organic regulations.
The organic certification bodies currently in Australia are six.
Demeter international:
Demeter is the brand for products from Biodynamic Agriculture. Only strictly controlled and contractually bound partners are permitted to use the Brand. A comprehensive verification process ensures strict compliance with the International Demeter Production and Processing Standards, as well as applicable organic regulations in the various countries; without a gap, through every step, from agricultural production to processing and final product packaging.
Demeter is the only ecological association that has built up a network of individual certification organisations worldwide. In 1997 Demeter-International was founded for closer co-operation in the legal, economic and spiritual spheres. Presently Demeter-International has 18 members and 5 guest-members from Europe, America, Africa and New Zealand. Thus Demeter-International represents more than 5.000 Demeter farmers with over 180.000 hectares in 54 countries.
Demeter-International e. V. is a non-profit organisation and its member organisations work together in the spirit of an international confederation with democratic principles. Membership requires a functioning Demeter certification programme. Associations which support the objectives of Demeter-International can be elected as associate members. Its basis is the Biodynamic agriculture method, originated by Rudolf Steiner in his “Agriculture Course” given in Koberwitz in 1924, and developed further in practice and research.
For finding more information about certification logos please visit:
Glossary of organic logos
and for finding a complete guide to organic seals and ecolables those are globally recognised, please visit:
