September 02, 2000 This IFOAM General Assembly which represents 284 organizations from 57 countries deplores the recent action by at least three governments which will prevent private certifiers from operating according to private standards which exceed the national standards and which will nullify the value of their privately registered certification marks.
This action violates the intellectual property rights of private
organic certifiers. It will also have the effect of stifling the
evolution of organic standards. It will undermine the public confidence
in the integrity of organic foods and the consumers right to choose.
IFOAM is the organization, which represents the international organic
agriculture movement with 690 members in more than 100 countries. It
develops international organic standards and promotes organic markets.
Approved by the General Assembly, Basel/Switzerland
September 2000
