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The IFOAM Norms |
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Last update: November 8, 2011
IFOAM Standard under development:
November 8, 2011: IFOAM Standard Version 0.2 open for motions
The IFOAM Standard is intended to be an internationally applicable organic standard that can be used directly for certification. It will also be a highly recognized, globally applicable standard.The IFOAM Standard now offers a global platform for organic standard setters to discuss, exchange, negotiate and compromise on detailed standards, thereby taking over the role that the IFOAM Basic Standard had in the past in this regard. The IFOAM Standard will also replace the IBS in the IFOAM Accreditation Program:certification bodies wishing to keep or obtain IFOAM Accreditation will have to use the IFOAM Standard or ensure compliance of their private standard to it.
The IFOAM Standard, version 0.1 was open for a first round of consultation in February-March 2011. You can download it here. The draft IFOAM Standard was developed based on the IBS Version 2005, but has undergone significant changes to turn what was a “standard for standards” into a “certification standard”. These changes are explained in the Introduction and Comment Questions for Members (también disponible en espanol aqui). This standard draft version 0.1 has been developed through the joint effort of the IFOAM staff, IFOAM Standard Committee, IOAS staff and other selected experts. The IFOAM Standard Committee reviewed all comments received and has published responses to these comments in August 2011. Following this, the committee produced a second draft version (Version 0.2) which was approved by the World Board in early November 2011. This IFOAM Standard Version 0.2 is presented for motions to the IFOAM membership (deadline January 8, 2012). IFOAM members should read the Introduction from the Standard Committee to the membership before submitting motion on the IFOAM Standard Version 0.2.
Developing the IFOAM Standard will nevertheless be a work in progress and an on-going duty of IFOAM and of its Standard Committee much beyond 2011, provided that there is interest in the commercial use of this standard.
IFOAM Standards Requirements (Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards): approved by the IFOAM membership through electronic vote
In its April 2011 meeting, the IFOAM World Board approved the revised version of the COROS – IFOAM Standards Requirements, as a new IFOAM norm and reference for the acceptance or rejection of organic standards into the IFOAM Family of Standards. On June 16, the World Board presented a motion to the IFOAM membership, proposing to ratify the document. The motion was open for membership vote until July, 28. The membership approved the COROS with an impressive 93,8 % of the votes. To learn more and read the final COROS-IFOAM Standards Requirements version, click here. To download the evaluation matrix template (excel sheet) for the equivalence assessment of standards against the COROS click here.
History of the COROS development:
Both IFOAM and the GOMA project have been developing tools for assessing equivalence of organic standards. These tools have been harmonized into a single one named “Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards” (COROS), or in the context of the IFOAM Norms the "IFOAM Standards Requirements". This single tool is expected to become THE international reference to perform bi-lateral or multi-lateral equivalence assessments of organic standards. The tool contains requirements that have been found common across many private and government organic standards. Standards can now be compared to this reference in an equivalence exercise, which will highlight their strengths and weaknesses as compared to the international reference. A spreadsheet is the functional format whereby data is entered following the traditional structure of organic standards, and results are automatically fed into a second sheet that provides an overview of how well the standard addresses the Common Objectives. A third sheet is provided to summarize the results of the assessment. The tool is also provided in Word document form for easier reading and comprehension of the common objectives and requirements that relate to them.
A first round of consultation was organized by the GOMA project in the end of 2011 on the GOMA version of the document (before harmonization and merging with the IFOAM version). Comments submitted during the first round of consultation on the GOMA document, and responses to these comments, are available on the GOMA website: http://www.goma-organic.org/.
The COROS - IFOAM Standards requirements underwent an open consultation period in February-March 2011. Versions proposed for comments are available here for the record: they include the spreadsheet, the Word document version with IFOAM Introduction, to be used in the IFOAM Norms and the Word document with GOMA Introduction, to be used as Annex II of the Equitool. The compilation of comments received during this consultation period, and the official responses to those comments, can be found here.
Revised IFOAM Norms under preparation
In 2010, IFOAM launched its new Organic Guarantee System (OGS). The implementation of this new OGS contains major changes to be implemented in the IFOAM Norms. While the IFOAM Norms have historically been composed of the IFOAM Basic Standards (IBS) and the IFOAM Accreditation Criteria, the new IFOAM Norms will contain the following normative documents:
- The IFOAM Standard: an off-the-shelf certification standard based on the IBS, which will ultimately replace it.
- The IFOAM Standards Requirements which will adopt the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards (COROS) developed jointly by IFOAM, FAO and UNCTAD. This document will be the basis to assess equivalence of organic standards for inclusion in the IFOAM Family of Standards.
- The IFOAM Accreditation Requirements (former IFOAM Accreditation Criteria).
The IFOAM Norms Version 2005
The IFOAM Norms are the IFOAM Basic Standards together with the IFOAM Accreditation Criteria.
The IFOAM Basic Standards (IBS) are a keystone of the organic
movement. Democratically and internationally adopted, they reflect the
current state of organic production and processing methods. These
standards should not be seen as a final statement, but rather as a work
in progress to contribute to the continued development and adoption
of organic practices throughout the world. The IBS are structured
as "standards for standards." They provide a framework for
certification bodies and standard-setting organizations worldwide to
develop their own more detailed certification standards which take
into account specific local conditions.
The IFOAM Accreditation Criteria (IAC) establish requirements
for conduct of organic certification by certification bodies. The
IAC are based on the International ISO norm for the operation of
certifying bodies and they are additionally developed to reflect the
particular circumstances of certifying organic production and processing.
The IAC together with the IBS (along with their Interpretations
and their changes resulting from Urgent Revisions - see below)
establish the requirements for certification bodies seeking IFOAM
accreditation. IFOAM accreditation is awarded to certification bodies
that use certification standards in their IFOAM accredited certification
program that at least meet the IFOAM Basic Standards. Secondly, the
certification body itself needs to show compliance with the IAC.
The Norms, their Interpretations and their changes resulting from Urgent Revisions can be downloaded from the Norms Documents Library of this website.
Interpretations of the IFOAM Norms
In the context of IFOAM accreditation, questions may arise about how
to understand the requirements of the IBS and the IAC. Therefore,
IFOAM has developed policies and procedures for the interpretation of
the Norms. The current interpretations of the Norms and the
Interpretation Policies and Procedures can be downloaded from the Norms Documents Library.
Urgent Revision of the IFOAM Norms
Occasionally circumstances warrant that the normal procedures
and timelines for norms revisions are superceded, and a section of
the norms may be revised in-between the normal revision cycles. The
current revisions to the text of the norms resulting from urgent
revisions and the respective policies can be downloaded from the Norms Documents Library.
Regular Revision of the IFOAM Norms
Because the IFOAM norms are seen as a work in progress they
are periodically revised and expanded by IFOAM in consultation with a
broad group of members and other stakeholders. In 2001 the current norms
were revised and entered into force upon approval by the IFOAM
General Assembly in August 2002. Both documents have recently undergone a major revision.
The
public consultation process regarding the revision of the 2002 IAC has been
finalized.For an
example of the revision process please refer to the IAC Revision Section of this website. There you can find the relevant policies and procedures and the
documents prepared in the course of the revision of the 2002 IAC.
The public consultation process regarding the
revision of the 2002 IBS will be finalized with a ratification vote at
the IFOAM General Assembly in the middle of September 2005. The
revision documents and the relevant Policies and Procedures for the
revision of the IBS are available at the IBS Revision Section of this website.
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