For governments and sector organizations looking to develop or improve their national organic standard and regulations, IFOAM - Organics International has developed the Organic Regulation Toolkit.

This toolkit presents an overview of the various voluntary and regulatory instruments. It contains a number of other templates and tools that can be used as a basis in drafting processes.

This toolkit was designed from best practices identified in a global review of organic guarantee systems and regulations. It also incorporates decades of advising experience in the governmental and private sectors.  The templates provided should be adapted to the specific needs of the user, always in consultation with their organic sector stakeholders. Users can consult our experts on the appropriateness of certain adaptations, and discuss whether they would likely have an impact on the credibility and acceptability of the national system at the international level.

The Organic Regulation Toolkit should be used to support the creation of appropriate frameworks whenever there is a national ambition to develop the organic sector. The choice of possible scenarios depends on the level of sector development and the internal demand for organic products.

For any further question or clarification, please contact ogs@ifoam.bio.

Toolkit 1

Emerging Organic Sector

The domestic market for organic products is still marginal, e.g. few organic shops and few producers are certified for the domestic organic market. The country may or may not have an existing organic regulation. 

Is the organic sector in the country asking for a compulsory regulation of Organic Agriculture?

Develop a national organic regulation, in partnership with your national organic stakeholders and with international advice (IFOAM - Organics International). 

Do not regulate the domestic market. You may develop a national (or regional) organic standard adapted to local conditions and link it to an organic mark and to a set of accepted verification systems. You may also first focus on developing an organic promotion policy.

  • National Standard Template based on the IFOAM Standard (you may adapt it to your national conditions, with a stakeholder participation process). Make sure the final version of your standard is approved into the IFOAM Family of Standards.
  • Template Manual for the management of a national logo.
  • Template organic promotion policy (pending)

Toolkit 2

Well Developed Domestic Organic Sector

Many organic retailers throughout the country, an important number of organic products are imported into the country, etc. The country already has an existing organic regulation. 

Points of Consideration for Improvement:

See the COROS equivalence assessment if the regulation has already been assessed by IFOAM against the COROS. If not, apply for the regulation to be approved into the IFOAM FAMILY OF STANDARDS or demand a COROS assessment.

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