The consumption of organic foods also grows in Italy. The question inspired by the Platonic philosophical question arises: "Who will govern the governors?" In this case, instead, we ask ourselves: who will control those who control? Let's take stock of the state of organic farming, legislation and the organic certification system.
Italians struggling with organic foods
This year in Italy the increase in the consumption of organic food concerns fresh fruit and vegetables, beverages, eggs, honey, bread and its substitutes, cured meats. After the fall in 2009, the dairy products, those for breakfast and for children, also recovered, in addition to the consumption of pasta, rice and oils. To confirm these data is the ISMEA, which attributes the good performance of the downward purchases of consumer prices which have fallen by 2.3%. In Italy, organic farming has an estimated turnover of around 3 billion, with a concentration of consumption quotas of organic food located in the North-West .
You can learn more about the importance of organic farming legislation
The certainty of organic certification
To enter the organic sector and have the opportunity to commercialize food as organic, agricultural, agro-zootechnical and processing companies must comply with the technical rules contained in the EU regulation REG. CEE 2092/91 and undergo the control of an institution authorized by the Ministry of Agricultural, Forestry Policies.
In Italy there are bodies called "Control Bodies" (CB) authorized by the Ministry of Agricultural and Forestry Policies to carry out direct checks on farms and to certify organic production (Ministerial Decree 220/95).
Below, we provide a list of authorized inspection bodies on the national territory:
- Soil and Health
- ICEA - Institute for Ethical and Environmental Certification
- IMC - Mediterranean Certification Institute
- Bioagricert
- CCPB - Biological Products Control Consortium
- CODEX Srl
- QC & I. International Services
- Ecocert Italia
- BIOS
- Eco System International Certificazioni Srl (Site under renovation)
- BIOZOO Srl
- Control System Insurance Srl
- ABC Fratelli Bartolomeo ss (In the absence of links, we report the e-mail: )
