Privacy Policy

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, IFOAM e.V. (referred to as IFOAM – Organics International) firmly believes in protecting visitor privacy and integrity. We have developed the following privacy policy for you to understand how we collect, make use of, communicate, and disclose your personal information.

We hope you enjoy accessing and using the digital resources of IFOAM – Organics International, whether you are intending to simply follow our organic movement or would like to get involved.

Our privacy policy is outlined as follows:

  • Before, or upon collection of personal information, we will identify the purposes for which information is being collected;
  • We will collect and use personal information solely with the objective of fulfilling those purposes specified by us and for other compatible purposes, unless we obtain additional consent from an individual, or as required by law;
  • We will only retain personal information as long as necessary for the fulfilment of our purposes;
  • Personal data is relevant to the purposes for which it is to be used, and, to the extent necessary for those purposes, should be accurate, current, and complete;
  • We will protect personal information through reasonable security safeguards, and also protect against unauthorized access, disclosure, copying, use, or modification.

Please read our privacy policy carefully to understand how we collect, use, protect, or otherwise handle your Personally Identifiable Information (PII) in accordance with our website. If you have any queries or concerns regarding this privacy policy, please contact privacy@ifoam.bio

What personal information do we collect from our website visitors?

On our website you may be asked to enter your name, email address, or other details to help you with your experience or to undertake an action (e.g. when making a donation or subscribing).

When do we collect your personal information?

We collect your information when you subscribe to a newsletter, respond to a survey, fill out a form, sign a petition, participate in a fundraising campaign, make a donation, or enter information on our website.

How do we process business cards provided by you to us at fairs (e.g. the Biofach trade fair) or other similar events?

We would like to stay in touch with you! When you provide us your contact details at an event, e.g., by handing us your business card or filling in our contact form, we assume that you would like to stay in touch with us as well. To this end, when we collect your contact details via this process, your information will be added to our database, so that we may reach out to you in the future. We will only contact you for reasons explicitly agreed to by you.

We will not send you unsolicited newsletters or other mass mailings, unless you have signed up for them. 

How do we use your personal information?

When you contribute a donation, respond to a survey or marketing communication, surf the website, or use certain other website features, we may use your information in the following ways:

  • To personalize your experience and to allow us to deliver the type of content which most interests you;
  • To improve our website in order to better serve you;
  • To administer a contest, promotion, survey, or other website feature;
  • To quickly process your donation or contribution;
  • To send you periodic emails regarding topics that interest you;
  • To follow up with you (e.g. email or phone inquiries).

Do we use cookies?

Yes. Cookies are small files that a website or its service provider transfers to your computer’s hard drive (computer/device) through your web browser, if you consent. This enables the website’s or service provider’s systems to recognize your browser and capture and remember certain information. The purpose of a cookie is to store a small amount of information regarding a specific visitor and website. We utilize cookies on our server to present specific, relevant information visitors in order to improve the overall user experience and interface.

How do we use cookies?

We use cookies to:

  • Help us remember your donation management journey;
  • Understand your preferences based on previous or current site activity, which enables us to provide you with improved content and services for future visits;
  • Compile aggregate data about website traffic and website interaction so that we can offer better website experiences and tools in the future;
  • We may also use trusted third-party services that track this information on our behalf.

If you disable cookies in your browser:

You can choose to make your computer/device warn you each time a cookie is being sent, or you can choose to turn off all cookies. You may do this through your browser settings. Since every browser is slightly different, look at your browser’s ‘Help Menu’ to learn the correct way to modify your cookies. If you turn cookies off some features that make your website experience more efficient may not function properly.

What do we do with third-party links?

We do not sell, trade, or otherwise transfer your PII to outside parties. Outside parties, however, do not include website hosting partners and other parties who assist us in operating our website or our campaigns under the condition that they agree to keep the information confidential and only use it in the context of operating the website and associated campaigns. We may also release information when appropriate in order to comply with the law, enforce our privacy policies, or protect ours or others’ rights, property, or safety.

Occasionally we may include or offer third-party links, products or services on our website. These third-party sites have separate and independent privacy policies. We assume no responsibility or liability for the content and activities of these linked sites. Nonetheless, we seek to protect the integrity of our website and welcome any feedback.

Which data protection law do we follow?

On May 25, 2018, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect. This law impacts EU-based organizations and requires any person or company in Germany (and conceivably the world) that operates a website collecting PII from visitors to post a conspicuous privacy policy on its website. This privacy policy must state which information is being collected and notify those individuals or companies with whom their information is being shared.

How does our website handle ‘Do Not Track’ signals?

Do Not Track policy and technology allow visitors to opt out of being tracked by websites. This includes analytics services, advertising networks, and social platforms. ‘Do Not Track’ provides visitors with a single, simple persistent choice to opt out of third-party website and/or web tracking.

We honor ‘Do Not Track’ signals and do not track, plant cookies, or use advertising when a Do Not Track browser mechanism is in place.

Does our website allow third-party behavioral tracking?

Yes, for optimum evaluation of our website’s activities, we allow third-party behavioral tracking. The sole purpose of this tracking is to allow us to count and monitor clicks on downloads and external links, and also to identify the country within which the click was made. This allows us to better understand our audience and work to improve our user’s website experience.

Behavioral tracking typically allows websites to customize internet content to specific users based on the collection and interpretation of market research data, browsing patterns through the use of cookies, social media, and other technologies. It is also important to note that most behavioral tracking is done without a user’s knowledge.

How can you contact us?

This website is operated by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements e.V. (referred to as IFOAM – Organics International), which has been granted the non-profit status by the German Tax Authorities, Bonn-Innenstadt.

  • Tax No: 205/5783/1496.
  • Association Register No: VR 8726, Amtsgericht Bonn, Germany.
  • VAT: DE186970545.
  • Physical Address: Charles-de-Gaulle-Str. 5, 53113, Bonn, Germany.

If you have any questions regarding this privacy policy, you may contact us at privacy@ifoam.bio