IOAS is a non-profit organization created in 1997 by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), which has been dedicated to accrediting certifiers and promoting organic agriculture internationally since 1972. Its main objectives are:
• To inform the general public about organic and other ecologically sound methods of production;
• To contribute to the development of credible standards for producers and requirements for their certification;
• To provide internationally recognised mechanisms for the assessment and accreditation of organisations which certify such products and activities;
• To contribute to the work of both private sector organisations and government organisations to regulate the trade in certified products and services;
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) is represented in more than 90 countries through its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). The agency's mission is to develop, maintain and expand access to US products on world markets.
Demeter is the only ecological association that has built a network of individual certification organizations around the world. In 1997 Demeter International was founded for closer cooperation in the legal, economic and spiritual fields. Demeter International currently has 16 member organizations from Europe, America, Africa and New Zealand. So Demeter International represents more than 4,200 Demeter producers in 43 countries.
IFOAM is the worldwide organization for the organic movement, bringing together more than 750 member organizations in 116 countries. IFOAM offers a market guarantee for organic. The Organic Guarantee System (OGS) unites the organic world through a common system of norms, verification and market identity, promotes equivalence between IFOAM participants (accredited certifiers), paving the way for a more orderly and reliable trade, giving credibility to the consumer of the organic "brand".
