The IFOAM Norms form the basis of the Organic Guarantee System of IFOAM - Organics International.
They are composed of three parts.
- Firstly, the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards (COROS) - IFOAM Standards Requirements.
- Secondly, the IFOAM Standard for Organic Production and Processing.
- Thirdly, the IFOAM Accreditation Requirements for Bodies Certifying Organic Production and Processing.
Here you can find the current version of the IFOAM Norms, approved by the membership of IFOAM - Organics International in July 2014. The document was edited in 2017, and in October 2019, however with no major content changes. The document includes new versions of the IFOAM Standard (Version 2.0) and the IFOAM Accreditation Requirements (Version 2.0).
The IFOAM Norms are the basis for approval of certification bodies under the IFOAM Accreditation Program.
Detailed Information
In 2010, IFOAM launched its new Organic Guarantee System (OGS). The implementation of this new OGS brought major changes to the IFOAM Norms.
Since 2012, the IFOAM norms contain the following normative documents:
- The IFOAM Standard: an off-the-shelf certification standard.
- The IFOAM Standards Requirements, also called the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards (COROS), which replaced the IFOAM Basic Standards (IBS)
- The IFOAM Accreditation Requirements (formerly IFOAM Accreditation Criteria).
The development of the IFOAM Norms is regulated by the IFOAM Policy 20 and involves three committees (for more information, please visit the OGS Commitees page) and goes through a number of public consultation rounds and membership motion processes.
Latest change:
In October 2018, the 2014 Version was re-published with new edits approved by our World Board. Edits consisted of the addition of the preamble to the IFOAM Accreditation Requirements (page 91).
In June 2017, the 2014 Version was re-published as an edited version in 2017. Edits concerned only the name of IFOAM (changed to IFOAM - Organics International) and the removal of the concept of "IFOAM Global Organic System Accreditation" (now simply called "IFOAM Accreditation"). Additionally, the footnote to requirement 9.2.2. in the IFOAM Accreditation Requirements was edited to refer to the IFOAM program of recognition of conformity assessment systems, set-up in 2015.
Earlier changes:
On July 25, 2014 the new version of the IFOAM Norms, Version 2014, replaced the former Version 2012, which had itself replaced the Version 2005.
What has changed in the IFOAM norms between Version 2005 and the subsequent versions?
- The IFOAM Basic Standards (IBS) has been replaced by the IFOAM Standard, which was approved through electronic membership vote on the 5th of August 2012.
- The Plant Breeding Draft Standards were deleted (they are now integrated into the approved IFOAM Standard).
- The COROS (Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards – IFOAM Standards Requirements), approved in July 2011, were added to the book of norms.
- The IFOAM Accreditation Criteria for Bodies Certifying Organic Production and Processing was renamed the “IFOAM Accreditation Requirements for Bodies Certifying Organic Production and Processing”, in line with the OGS membership vote of July 2010, and the corresponding edits were included throughout the document, as well as small changes in its introduction. Its reference to the IBS has been changed to reference the IFOAM Standard.
- Introductory and general sections on the IFOAM Norms, the IFOAM Organic Guarantee System, the IFOAM Accreditation Program, etc. have been updated.