Types of Organic Certification

Because of the immense popularity of organic food products, a lot of manufacturers and product retailers are taking advantage of the fad and label food organic even though it is not. This practice is inevitable. This is the reason why organic certification is being applied. Through the implementation of organic certification, strict standards in quality are employed in the different aspects of food production and handling.

Food products with organic certification ensure the consumers that the food products as well as the ingredients used are all natural and organic. Farmers, manufacturers and food handlers as well as restaurants and every business enterprise that is directly involved in producing or processing organic food can be subjected to organic certification regulations.

There are different of organic certification which is applied in different countries. There are some countries wherein the government plays a viable role in the rules and regulation of organic certification. Countries such as the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Union have strict legislations encompassing organic farming and food processing. On some countries without comprehensive laws about organic food products, the regulations and standards are often implemented by non-profit organizations or by private companies. The following are the organic certification of different countries as well as the agencies that oversee its implementation.

• United States

  In the United States, there are three levels of organic food products depending on the amount of organic ingredients used in producing a product. Only products that used certified organic ingredients can put “100% Organic” label. There are also food products that are 95% and 70% organic. Organic faming and production in the United States are regulated by the USDA through the enacted National Organic Program.

• Europe

  Different countries comprising the European Union also implements strict and rigorous organic programs and legislations in their organic faming and food production, especially when EU-ECO-Regulation was enacted in 1992. Recently, the European organic food label is a must in every European nation. In the United Kingdom, the organic certification is overlooked by various organizations such as The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. In Sweden, the regulating body for organic farming and food production is handled by a non-profit organization with members from various sectors such as farmers, manufacturers, traders, consumers and environmental enthusiasts.

• Australia

  Australia does not have a complete standard and guidelines for organic farming and food production. There is also no formal monitoring and inspection of sites and business enterprise in Australia due to the absence of formal mitigating body for organic produce. The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) is the agency that oversees the organic certification in Australia. The government is only involved in organic food products when it is for export.

• Japan

  Japan is one of the highly industrialized countries that pay close attention to their agriculture. The Japanese Agricultural Standard which was fully enacted in April 2001. This law comprised the standards and guidelines for organic farming and food production. The monitoring and inspections are done by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The acquisition of organic certification is of vital importance to different business enterprise in the field of organic farming and food production as it is a form of protection to consumers that what they are buying are authentic organic foods products.