IFOAM's mission is leading, uniting and assisting the organic movement in its full diversity.
Our goal is the worldwide adoption of ecologically, socially and economically sound systems that are based on the principles of Organic Agriculture.
Leading the organic movements worldwide, IFOAM implements the will of its broad based constituency - from farmers' organizations to multinational certification agencies, ensuring the credibility and longevity of organic agriculture as a means to ecological, economic and social sustainability.
Uniting the organic world, IFOAM provides platforms to stakeholders for a wide range of purposes. Through international conferences, committee meetings, and other forums, IFOAM facilitates the ongoing and constructive dialogue about the future and status of organic agriculture.
Assisting its membership, IFOAM implements specific projects that facilitate the adoption of organic agriculture, particularly in developing countries. IFOAM also represents the organic agriculture movements at United Nations and other intergovernmental agencies.
Goals
In order to fulfill its mission, five goals were set by the World Board for the medium term:
- IFOAM builds the global platform for the organic movement
- IFOAM develops, communicates and defends the principles of organic agriculture
- IFOAM advocates and facilitates the adoption of organic agriculture
- IFOAM promotes the development of organic markets
- IFOAM ensures an effectively managed organization with sufficient and sustainable resources
What is EurepGAP?
EurepGAP started in 1997 as an initiative of retailers belonging to the Euro-Retailer Produce Working Group (EUREP). It has subsequently evolved into an equal partnership of agricultural producers and their retail customers. Our Mission is to develop widely accepted standards and procedures for the global certification of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Technically speaking EurepGAP is a set of normative documents suitable to be accredited to internationally recognised certification criteria such as ISO Guide 65. Representatives from around the globe and all stages of the food chain have been involved in the development of these documents. In addition the views from stakeholders outside the Industry including consumer and environmental organisations and governments have helped shape the protocols. This wide consultation has produced a robust and challenging but nonetheless achievable protocol which farmers around the world can use to demonstrate compliance with Good Agricultural Practices. The standards are openly available and free to obtain from the EurepGAP website.
It is possible for producer organisations to seek an independent and transparent recognition of equivalence with the EurepGAP standards and procedures through a benchmarking system thereby facilitating global trade and aiding the harmonisation of technical criteria.
EurepGAP members include retailers, producers/farmers and associate members from the input and service side of agriculture. Governance is by a BOARD which is chaired by an independent Chairperson and by sector specific Committees. Both the standard and the certification system is approved by the Committees. These committees have 50% retailer and 50% producer representation creating an effective and efficient partnership in the supply chain. The work of the Committees is supported by FoodPLUS a not for profit limited company based in Cologne, Germany.
What factors led to the development of EurepGAP?
EurepGAP was driven by the desire to reassure consumers. Following food safety scares such as BSE (mad cow disease), pesticide concerns and the rapid introduction of GM foods consumers throughout the world are asking how food is produced; and they need re-assuring that it is both safe and sustainable. Food safety is a global issue and transcends international boundaries. Many EurepGAP members are global players in the retail industry and obtain food products from around the world. For these reasons a need has arisen for a commonly recognised and applied reference standard of Good Agricultural Practice which has at its centre a consumer focus.
These factors sometimes known as "the triple bottom line - people, planet and profit" recognise the importance major corporations and multinational supply bases place on ensuring agriculture is undertaken in a responsible way that respects food safety, the environment, workers welfare and the welfare of animals. Good Agricultural Practices, which are understood by producers all over the world, deliver clearly defined outcomes in these areas.
What are the goals of EurepGAP?
By adhering to good agricultural practices we reduce the risks in agricultural production. EurepGAP provides the tools to objectively verify best practice in a systematic and consistent way throughout the world. We achieve this through the protocol and compliance criteria. EurepGAP's scope is concerned with practices on the farm, once the product leaves the farm they come under the control of other Codes of Conduct and certification schemes relevant to food packing and processing.That way the whole chain is assured right through to the final consumer.
Another key goal is to provide a forum for continuous improvement. The technical and standards committees, consisting of producer and retail members, has a formal agenda to review emerging issues and carry-out risk assessments. This is a rigorous process, following the principles of HACCP, and involves experts in their field leading to revised versions of the protocol.
What is HACCP?
Objectives and Expected Achievements
Using consumer concerns as the main criteria of assessment, the objective of the proposed Concerted Action is to provide recommendations to participants on the chain of production, distribution and consumption in regard to improving the safety and quality of certified organic food products. This comprises the following separate achievements:
To provide a differentiated overview of existing studies regarding consumer concerns - needs, attitudes and responses with regard to food safety and quality - and criteria in regard to the safety and quality of organic foods within the European region, and a conceptual framework regarding the perspectives of future consumer research in this field. (Deliverable D 1).
To establish a database of existing procedures for current production management and quality assurance related to the chains of production, processing, labelling and distribution of certified organic foods and relevant control points for selected organic food production chains (Wheat bread, fresh cabbage, fresh tomatoes, fresh apples, wine, fresh eggs, fresh pork, fresh milk, plain yoghurt), prepared with data from each of 4-5 European regions, in a manner that will allow for extension with additional commodity groups and updated procedures. (Deliverable D 2)
To undertake systematic analyses of each selected commodity chain using the procedures developed for Hazard Analysis by Critical Control Points (HACCP), for each of the following 7 aspects of safety and/or quality: Microbial toxins and abiotic contaminants; Nutrient content and food additives; Potential pathogens; Freshness and taste; Natural plant toxicants; Fraud and Social and ethical aspects. Analyses will be undertaken with a view to ensuring relevant and comparable outputs, and taking regional differences into account. (Deliverable D 4.4).
To assess the adequacy of current procedures for production management and control regarding each identified Critical Control Point, in the light of consumer criteria regarding the safety and quality of these products. This assessment will identify the range of current problems and opportunities in regard to improving the safety and quality of each commodity group. It will yield a series of recommendations to participants on these commodity chains. (Deliverables D 4.5 and D 6.1).
To formulate and disseminate four types of targeted recommendations to the groups of stakeholders involved (consumers and their oganisations; wholesale and retail distributors, producers; regulating bodies and safety authorities; researchers and research policy makers) in regard to measures that could improve the safety and quality of certified organic foods with specific regard to meeting consumer criteria of assessment. In order to ensure efficient dissemination, representatives of these stakeholders will be involved in the project from the outset, providing feedback on the methodology of the proposed work at all stages. (Deliverables D 5.3, 5.4, D 6.2 and D 6.4).
To identify all key areas in regard to the quality and safety of foods examined, in which the current state of the art does not yield a basis on which practical recommendations can be grounded due to insufficient data or knowledge at the present time and, accordingly, to formulate recommendations to researchers, research policy makers and other stakeholders regarding issues that should be addressed in future research programmes. These recommendations will target agriculture in general, as well as organic production in particular, using the system of certified organic production as a well defined model for any system that aims at simultaneous improvements of environmental impact, food quality, food safety and economic viability of local production. (Deliverable D 6.3).