New organic certifier announced for Ireland: IMO

Earlier this month, the Institute of Marketecology (IMO) were approved to operate in Ireland as a new organic certification body.

IMO are a large globally recognised certification body, for whom organic is just one area.

This again brings to three the number of organic certification bodies in Ireland: until quite recently, the Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association (IOFGA) and Organic Trust were accompanied by Demeter Standards, the certification branch of the Biodynamic Association of Ireland.

IMO has been active in the field of organic certification for more than 20 years. Their world-wide activities are accredited by the Swiss Accreditation Service (SAS).

Thus far, IMO have had a presence in Ireland through certification of aquaculture products as organic to the private German-based Naturland standard. Irish Companies such as Atlantic Fare list Naturland amongst their certification bodies.

According to Minister for Food Trevor Sargent TD, who announced the arrival of IMO as a certification body, �With the inclusion of aquaculture within the scope of the new Organic Regulation from 1 January 2009, there should be opportunities to expand the organic aquaculture sector and IMO�s approval is therefore timely.�

The issues facing the seafood sector have been outlined elsewhere in this edition, and indeed in last weeks. This boost for the organic aquaculture industry in Ireland is noteworthy, especially as this particular sector does indeed seem poised for action.

Take for example the attendees at the upcoming BioFach event, Europe�s largest organic trade show. Each year, over 2500 exhibitors and 45,000 visitors attend the show in Germany.

Historically, Ireland�s representation at BioFach has been very poor. While the exception has actually been the seafood sector, this year, their presence has increased.

At the upcoming exhibition in February, the vast majority of the 20�odd Irish attendees registered thus far are seafood related, from seafood companies such as Irish Seaspray to suppliers of feed to the sector.

While they have a strong base in seafood, IMO�s potential expansion beyond aquaculture would make for interesting times for the other certification bodies in Ireland. IMO claims to have representatives in over 30 countries and activities in over 90 countries.

Their global clients include US-based Whole Foods and Dr. Bonner. Their relationship with Wholefoods led to the Whole Trade Guarantee program, which includes both social justice and environmental dimensions.

This reflects trends at the global organic movement level, through the activities and statements of organisations like IFOAM, the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements, who are the umbrella group for organic organisations across the world.

On the ground, however, organic certification bodies are constrained by their resources and remit.

Many in indigenous organic organisations feel frustrated that they are essentially doing the state�s work - certification � rather than any of the other myriad areas for which they have little time. These include educational, promotional, representational, supportive, advocatory or advisory.

It is also unclear what the consumer will make of another certification body. At present in Ireland, recognition of the two Irish-based certification logos is very low � lower than that of the UK�s Soil Association logo in fact.

According to the research, for the Irish consumer, the word organic is �the logo�. Soon, the consumer will have yet another logo to decipher, the mandatory EU logo, which is currently being redrawn.

It is also of course the case that arrival of another certification body will be hailed as welcome competition. This may be so.

However, there has been competition between IOFGA and the Organic Trust for many years. All the while, this competition was accompanied by calls for one organic organisation, as well as calls for the organisations to work more closely together.

Just how a pan-global organisation will adapt to the nuances and peculiarities of the Irish situation remains to be seen. They can of course point to expertise in this area, having representatives in so many countries.

And with the UK�s Soil Association possibly sounding out its own arrival into the Irish organic certification scene, those considering the organic option may soon have a veritable a la carte menu to choose from.