The IFOAM EU Group is an independent
regional group within IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture
Movements. It is a part of IFOAM and works within its structures. IFOAM EU
Group represents at the EU level more than 300 member organisations of IFOAM in
the EU-27, the EU accession countries and EFTA. Member organisations cover the
complete range of organic establishments and include: consumer, farmer and
processor associations; research, education and advisory organisations;
certification bodies and commercial organic companies.
The IFOAM EU Group was formally constituted as a regional group
within IFOAM in February 2000 following its first General Assembly. It
superseded the EU Working Group, which was formed in 1990. In 2002, IFOAM EU
Group registered as an international not-for-profit organisation in Sweden.
Since 2003 it operates with an office in Brussels.
Aims and objectives and areas of work IFOAM EU Group advocates for the development and integrity of
organic food and farming in Europe. It is a forum for common interest,
information exchange, development and policy work. Its objectives are defined
in its statutes and can be summarised as:
To
promote within the EU the principles and practices of organic agriculture
and food production as set out in the IFOAM Standards.
To coordinate
and represent IFOAM members in EU countries, within IFOAM, in the EU and
elsewhere.
To enable the
exchange of information both between IFOAM members in EU countries and
with other bodies worldwide.
To assist in
the coordination and dissemination of research in organic food production
throughout the EU.
To work towards
the establishment of common policies within the Group in relation to the
above.
IFOAM EU Group work
and decision-making structures Primary responsibility for the decisions of IFOAM EU Group is
vested in the Board of the organisation, which is elected every three years and
is endorsed by the General Assembly. Board members are elected nationally, i.e.
the IFOAM members in each EU/EFTA/candidate country elect one board member and
one substitute to represent the respective national organic sectors at the
Board of the EU Group. This structure reflects the fact that much of the
Group’s focus is directed at the EU and it is thus essential to maintain the
credibility of the organisation as EU-wide representative of the organic
movements and businesses. Indeed today the Group is regarded by EU officials as
the principle representative of the organic movement in the EU.
The
members of the Board are responsible for communication to and from the member
organisations in their countries and for bringing their views to the Board. The
Board holds formal meetings two or three times a year in different member
countries, and communicates on an ongoing basis. Since spring 2009 the Group has
also had an eight-member Executive Board which, in conjunction with the Director,
manages the processes of the organisation and adopts positions between the
board meetings on behalf of the IFOAM EU Group.
The content work of the
Group is separated into three main areas: Regulation, Policy and Research. Much
of the work is carried out within various working groups (committees, expert groups,
specialist groups and task forces – for more information see under ‘work areas’).
IFOAM
EU Group is represented on a number of European Commission committees,
including the DG Agriculture advisory groups on organic farming, on quality and
health, on rural development and on fruit and vegetables. It has observer
status in the advisory group for agriculture and environment.It is further represented in the DG Sanco
advisory group on food chain and animal and plant health.
