Organic Trade Organizations World

Directory of Organic Trade Organizations, Associations

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM)
IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 108 countries.
Organic trade is a rapidly growing reality all over the world. The growth rates of the organic sector demonstrate that organic products are moving from the “niche” and entering mainstream markets. The total land under certified organic production worldwide has reached over 26 Million hectares. IFOAM is at the center of this development.

International Relationships
IFOAM actively participates in international agricultural and environmental negotiations with the United Nations and multilateral institutions to further the interests of the organic agricultural movement worldwide. IFOAM is uniquely recognised for taking on this important role. The introduction of the Principles of Organic Agriculture and the recognition of IFOAM by international institutions is of enormous importance for the further development of organic agriculture.

The Organic Guarantee System
IFOAM provides a market guarantee for integrity of organic claims. The Organic Guarantee System (OGS) unites the organic world through a common system of standards, verification and market identity. It fosters equivalence among participating IFOAM accredited certifiers, paving the way for more orderly and reliable trade whilst acknowledging consumer trust in the organic ‘brand’.

Facilitating Networks and Market Development
Through IFOAM programs, conferences and events, IFOAM is laying the groundwork for the further development of organic agriculture and its markets worldwide. Through IFOAM World Congresses, International Trade conferences, commodity specific (coffee, seeds, wild products, etc.) and other events , IFOAM brings together the key players from all over the planet to facilitate trade in organic products.
> ifoam.org

Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
The International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard is comprised of four reputed member organisations, namely OTA (USA), IVN (Germany), Soil Association (UK) and JOCA (Japan), which contribute to GOTSthe GOTS, together with further international stakeholder organizations and experts, their respective expertise in organic farming and environmentally and socially responsible textile processing.

It is now already more than 20 years ago when experts in organic agriculture studied the possibility of cultivating organic cotton for industrial use. Already 16 years ago, in 1989, the International Association Natural Textile Industry (former AKN) was founded in Germany and defined a first set of standards to process eco-friendly textiles with a practicable industrial approach. So far there exist worldwide numerous different standards and draft standards for the production in the niche market of organic textiles. The existing different standards cause confusion with producers and consumers and are an obstacle to free international exchange with organic textiles.
Based on this background during the Intercot Conference 2002 in Düsseldorf (Germany) a workshop was launched where representatives of organic cotton producers, the textile industry, consumers as well as standard organisations and certifiers participated and discussed the need for a harmonised world-wide recognised organic textile standard.

As a concrete result of the workshop the “International Working Group on Global Organic Textile Standard” was founded with the aim to work on harmonisation of the various regional approaches and to develop a Global Organic Textile Standard. Since then, a number of organisations and experts have periodically participated in this work. After only 3 years – at the next Intercot Conference 2005 in Chicago, the 1st Version of the Global Organic Textile Standard was presented by the International Working Group.
> global-standard.org

In alphabetical order

Institute for Marketecology (IMO)
The Institute for Marketecology is one of the first and most renowned international agencies for inspection, certification and quality assurance of eco-friendly products. Our world-wide activities are accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS) according to EN 45011 (ISO 65), which is the international standard for certification. IMO offers certification for organic production and handling according the European Regulation (EU) Nr. 2092/91. Also we have been accredited by USDA for organic certification according to the American National Organic Program (NOP). Recently we have received the reaccreditation by MAFF and offer certification according to the Japanese Agricultural Standard (JAS) for the Japanese market. Since more than 20 years, IMO has been active in the field of organic certification but it is also expert in the sectors of natural textiles, sustainable forestry, and social accountability monitoring.
imo.ch

OneCert – Organic Certification
OneCert provides organic certification worldwide. Certification and inspection programs include the US National Organic Program (NOP), European Organic Regulations (EU 2092/91), Quebec Organic Standards (CAQ), Japan Agricultural Standards (JAS), IFOAM, and Bio Suisse. Services include organic certification, organic inspection, export certificates, transaction certificates, on-line record keeping, answers to certification questions, and presentations of organic topics.
> onecert.net

Testex® – Worldwide Textile Testing
Testex® is an independent, neutral, Swiss textile testing institute which provides public services worldwide for everyone engaged in all textile and related fields (cf. Customer segments).
Its range of services extends from standard physical and chemical textile tests through residue and harmful substance analysis to factual investigation in cases of damage, consulting on environmental and quality issues, and special services such as organising round robin tests and on-site services. Our testing facilities are structured in such a way that we can make available a comprehensive range of tests for all textile raw materials, semi-finished and finished products. We are especially proud to be one of the few institutes in the world which is still able to test raw silk and silk products. As an accredited testing laboratory we consider ourselves obliged to improve our quality management and technical expertise continuously in the service of our clients. We therefore endeavour always to perform tests in accordance with national and international regulations and standards.
> testex.com

Textile Exchange
Founded in 2002, Textile Exchange (formerly Organic Exchange) facilitates expansion of the global organic cotton and sustainable fiber supply and marketplace by working closely with the entire value chain, from farmers and textile suppliers to retailers and consumers. Textile Exchange has hosted numerous conferences and
trainings in supply chain centers around the world, including Brazil, China, Germany, India, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Sweden, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
> textileexchange.org

NEWS – the Network of European Worldshops
NEWS is the umbrella network of 15 national Worldshop associations in 13 different countries all over Europe. Through them we represent the Worldshops – shops that offer fairly traded products and campaign for a fairer world trade system. Through its members – National Associations – NEWS represents approximately 2,500 Worldshops and 100,000 volunteers working in these shops.
> worldshops.org

Soil Association
The Soil Association is the UK’s leading campaigning and certification organisation for organic food and farming. Since its formation in 1946, the Soil Association has grown from a small but influential voice challenging the orthodoxy of chemical-based intensive agriculture, to an international authority on the principles and practices of organic farming.
But our interests and activities have always extended more widely, covering the whole spectrum of animal welfare, the environment, human health, international development, and rural culture. Soil Association Certification Limited (SA Certification) is the UK’s largest organic certification body. It’s also the only certification body linked to a committed charity, promoting organic food and farming.
> soilassociation.org

Swedish Society for Nature Conservation (SSNC)
SSNC is an environmental organisation with power to bring about change. We spread knowledge, map environmental threats, create solutions, and influence politicians and public authorities, at both national and international levels. Moreover, we are behind one of the world’s most challenging ecolabellings, “Bra Miljöval” (Good Environmental Choice). Climate, the oceans, forests, environmental toxins, and agriculture are our main areas of involvement.
> naturskyddsforeningen.se