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Bio Suisse
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Bio Suisse is the association of Swiss organic farmers and the Bio Suisse quality seal "the Bud" is the by far most important seal for organic products in Switzerland. Although Switzerland has also a governmental organic regulation and products certified according to this law or the equivalent EU-Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 may be marketed as organic, many international exporters experience that they need Bio Suisse approval of their products for optimal marketing in Switzerland.
International producers, processorsn and traders can formally not be CERTIFIED in their own name according to Bio Suisse, but they can be Bio Suisse APPROVED. All operations in the production chain must be Bio Suisse approved in order to deliver Bio Suisse approved products to Switzerland. Only the Bio Suisse licencee in Switzerland can apply for Bio Suisse approval of his suppliers, i.e. international operators cannot apply in their own name to Bio Suisse, but must find a Swiss importer to lance their application.
>> Read more at the official Bio Suisse website.
International producers, processorsn and traders can formally not be CERTIFIED in their own name according to Bio Suisse, but they can be Bio Suisse APPROVED. All operations in the production chain must be Bio Suisse approved in order to deliver Bio Suisse approved products to Switzerland. Only the Bio Suisse licencee in Switzerland can apply for Bio Suisse approval of his suppliers, i.e. international operators cannot apply in their own name to Bio Suisse, but must find a Swiss importer to lance their application.
>> Read more at the official Bio Suisse website.
Certification requirements
Bio Suisse links rigorous technical, ecological and market-political requirements with the Bud-label approval for import products:
In principle, exclusively products may be imported that cannot or not in sufficient quality be produced by Swiss organic farm operations.
Priority is given to imports from the nearest production regions or countries. No import of fresh produce from overseas may take place, except for produce that cannot be produced in European countries for climatic reasons.
The Bio Suisse standards differ from the minimum requirements of the EU in several important respects. Especially noteworthy are the following:
In principle, exclusively products may be imported that cannot or not in sufficient quality be produced by Swiss organic farm operations.
Priority is given to imports from the nearest production regions or countries. No import of fresh produce from overseas may take place, except for produce that cannot be produced in European countries for climatic reasons.
The Bio Suisse standards differ from the minimum requirements of the EU in several important respects. Especially noteworthy are the following:
- The whole farm operation must be converted to organic production. If animals are kept on the farm, these must comply with organic standards (EU or IFOAM) even if not marketed as organic.
- The minimum conversion period under organic certification is of two complete calendar years. No reduction or retrospective approval of the conversion period is possible. Even operators who are organic since several year, may in some cases be recognized only as in conversion by Bio Suisse.
- Farm operations must set aside at least 7% of their agricultural area to enhance biodiversity.
- There are stringent limits regarding the use of fertilisers and copper products.
- Requirements regarding crop rotation are defined in detail.
- Bio Suisse defines processing standards for different products. Additives and processing aids are only allowed if listed in the Bio Suisse STANDARD.
- Bio Suisse products may not be exported by air plane.
- All operators in the productio chain must be Bio Suisse approved (every supplying farm, any processor) and the Bio Suisse approved products must be kept strictly separate from any other "organic-only" products.
Certification procedures
All operators to be certified according to the Bio Suisse standards are inspected at least once a year. Inspection services recognized by Bio Suisse monitor the cultivation and the processing of Bud products. IMO is recognized by Bio Suisse to provide this service for farms and processors and is co-operating with Bio Suisse since many years.
In organic farms, fulfilment of the Bio Suisse standards and farm documentation is verified. In processing and trading companies, the provenance of raw materials (from Bio Suisse approved farms), the flow of goods, the recipes, the processing methods, the storage and the labelling are examined. Organic farms and processing and trading companies only receive the Bud-approval after a satisfying inspection and thorough examination of the report by Bio Suisse.
Inspection according to Bio Suisse standards should be applied for at IMO together with the annual inspection in order to reduce costs by combining the inspection according to the different standards (EU, Bio Suisse etc). Please note that the application for the approval of an operation outside of Switzerland must be formally made by an importer in Switzerland. This importer must either be or be in process of becoming a Bio Suisse/Bud-label licence holder. Operators who wish to be certified by Bio Suisse therefore need to obtain the confirmation of a Swiss importer, that IMO shall hand in the inspection report to Bio Suisse on behalf of his company. The operator needs to sign a data release form, which authorises IMO to hand in the inspection report to Bio Suisse.
<< How to become certified by IMO (if you are not yet IMO certified)
In organic farms, fulfilment of the Bio Suisse standards and farm documentation is verified. In processing and trading companies, the provenance of raw materials (from Bio Suisse approved farms), the flow of goods, the recipes, the processing methods, the storage and the labelling are examined. Organic farms and processing and trading companies only receive the Bud-approval after a satisfying inspection and thorough examination of the report by Bio Suisse.
Inspection according to Bio Suisse standards should be applied for at IMO together with the annual inspection in order to reduce costs by combining the inspection according to the different standards (EU, Bio Suisse etc). Please note that the application for the approval of an operation outside of Switzerland must be formally made by an importer in Switzerland. This importer must either be or be in process of becoming a Bio Suisse/Bud-label licence holder. Operators who wish to be certified by Bio Suisse therefore need to obtain the confirmation of a Swiss importer, that IMO shall hand in the inspection report to Bio Suisse on behalf of his company. The operator needs to sign a data release form, which authorises IMO to hand in the inspection report to Bio Suisse.
<< How to become certified by IMO (if you are not yet IMO certified)
Standard
More information about the Bio Suisse standard you find here.
