Do you work with organic producers? You should display the AB label too
AFNOR Certification has received accreditation from the INAO, enabling it to conduct inspections and issue the European Union Organic Label to producers, processors, distributors, and importers of organic products.
Food safety
In France, the market for certified organic products grew by 15% in 2018 (source: Agence Bio). The debate over the minimum distances for pesticide application zones near residential areas plays into the hands of products that are exempt from such restrictions, primarily those from organic farming. Producers have their specifications, inspections, and certification, but downstream players in the supply chain who work with these producers also have the option to request the certification.
AFNOR Certification is now authorized to issue it. In October 2019, the AFNOR Group subsidiary obtained accreditation from the INAO, allowing it to conduct inspections and issue the European Union’s AB label—under the number FR-BIO-21—to producers, processors, distributors, and importers of organic products. Are you one of them? You can now reassure your customers about the natural and authentic nature of your products… and extend the approach initiated by the producer all the way to the store shelves.
Agricultural sector: From ISO 22000 to organic certification
For AFNOR Certification, this is a logical extension of its longstanding focus on the agri-food sector, starting with AFAQ ISO 22000 certification. More than 1,000 companies in this sector rely on its services as an independent third-party body to demonstrate that they fully comply with the most prominent international standards: ISO 22000 for food safety management, of course, but also ISO 14001 for environmental management and ISO 26000 for social responsibility.
It is important to note that certification of organic farming methods is regulated at the European level and overseen in France by the National Institute for Origin and Quality (INAO), a public administrative agency under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The INAO entrusts inspections to accredited certification bodies. Only raw or processed products derived from organic farming may display the European organic logo (in the shape of a leaf) and the AB label.
