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DEBIO -
Norway
In the mid 1980s two initiatives came together to launch a successful cooperation using the Demeter label for biodynamic farms and the label Biologisk for the rules jointly developed by NOLL, the Norwegian Centre for Organic Farming and the research and extension groups for organic farming. The name Debio thus indicates this cooperations Demeter and Biologisk. As a result, Norway has only one certification scheme and one labelling scheme.
Debio is a private, non-profit association based on a membership organised to enhance mutual trust between all parties engaged in production, marketing and consumption of organic goods. Therefore, Debio has three membership categories:
primary industry processing, import and marketing environmental and consumer organisations.
The main aims of the organisation are to safeguard and promote organic production, marketing and consumption.
Under the EEA Agreement II of 1995, Norwegian authorities are responsible for the inspection of organic agricultural production according to the EU regulation (2092/91). The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has delegated the responsibility for the actual inspection and certification to Debio. The organisation was granted IFOAM Accreditation in January 2006.
In 1986, 19 farms were inspected and processed for certification. In 2005 this figure had grown to 2496 farms and 354 companies. In addition, inspection and labelling schemes were developed for natural products, farm inputs, aquaculture and textiles. From being a purely private initiative with self defined rules for organic agricultural production, Debio has become an inspection and certification body with administrative responsibilities for public authorities.
In October, 1998 , Debio was accredited by Norsk Akkreditering based on NS-EN 45011 for its function as the authorised inspection body.
The scope of activity under their IFOAM accredited programme covers crop production, livestock, wild product, processing and handling, input manufacturing and retail. Debio has also developed regulations and certification for organic textiles and organic forestry. These, along with aquaculture, are excluded from the scope of their IFOAM accreditation.
Mr Roy Haugen - Managing Director
Mr Morten Ingvaldsen - Advisor
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Last updated:
31/01/2008
DEBIO
Bjorkelangen
N - 1940
Norway
Tel: + 47 638 62 650
Fax: + 47 638 56 985
Email: morten@debio.no
Web: www.debio.no
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