For more information, please read the QAI IFOAM Program Requirements and the QAI IFOAM Standards.

1. What is IFOAM?

IFOAM is the International Federation of Organic Agricultural Movements. The main function of IFOAM is coordinating the network of the organic movement around the world, through numerous international, continental and regional conferences and through its publications. IFOAM promotes the organic movements in international policymaking and has consultancy status with the United Nations (UN) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). IFOAM Basic Standards and Criteria have been translated into 20 different languages and IFOAM members span the globe in over 100 countries.

2. Who is eligible for certification?

All QAI NOP clients, whose activities fall within our scope of accreditation for IFOAM, can apply to the QAI IFOAM Program. However, QAI will not solicit individual applicants based on the needs of a specific buyer nor will QAI engage in the marketing of certified products or the promotion of individual products.

3. What are the requirements for QAI IFOAM certification? What is the certification Process? What are the rules and procedures for suspension and withdrawal of IFOAM certification?

Clients are required to do the following to be certified to the QAI IFOAM program:

• Be certified to the NOP by QAI
• Comply with QAI IFOAM standards; including QAI IFOAM material lists (verified via additional inspections or at annual inspections)
  
• IFOAM Transaction certificates are required for all IFOAM transactions

4. When can the QAI IFOAM Seal be applied?

For information on use of the QAI IFOAM seal, please refer to Use of the IFOAM Seal.

5. How are the QAI IFOAM Fees assessed?

For more information on the QAI IFOAM Fees, please refer to the Fee Section of the QAI IFOAM Program Requirements. For all of QAI’s Fees please refer to the QAI Fee Schedule.

6. What is QAI’s procedure for handling IFOAM based complaints and appeals?

For more information on IFOAM based complaints and appeals, please refer to the Noncompliance, Sanctions and Appeals Section of the QAI IFOAM Program Requirements.

7. What is the difference between the NOP, EEC Reg. 2092/91 and IFOAM?

The NOP, EEC Reg. 2092/91 and IFOAM are three different standards. The NOP and EEC Reg. 2092/91 are enforced for products marketing in the US and European Union, respectively. IFOAM is a private standard.

8. Can I use ingredients that are not IFOAM but are NOP or EEC Reg. 2092/91 certified in my IFOAM products?

Yes, in a limited capacity. A recent change to the IFOAM accreditation criteria states that minor ingredients that do not make up more than 10% of the weight of the product can be non-IFOAM. No more than 20% of the weight of the product can be from non-IFOAM minor ingredients. A certification body that has been approved by its government or has been accredited by a national accreditation body for the scope of organic certification must certify these ingredients.

Beyond this exception, the QAI IFOAM Program currently requires that all other organic ingredients for IFOAM products must be IFOAM certified. QAI accepts ingredients for all IOAS accredited IFOAM certifiers without additional requirements. QAI is in the progress of developing procedures to evaluate non-IFOAM certified organic products to IFOAM standards for ingredient usage.

For more information, contact Ann Marie Hourigan at 858.792.3531 or by e-mail.