(Medina, ND - April 25, 2011) The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM) recently accepted the certification program Farm Verified Organic (FVO) into the internationally recognized IFOAM Family of Standards. IFOAM is the worldwide umbrella organization for the organic movement, uniting more than 750 member organizations in 116 countries.

“International Certification Services, Inc is currently the only North American IFOAM accredited certifier,” says Christina Dockter, Senior Executive Partner. “The acceptance of our Farm Verified Organic certification into the IFOAM Family of Standards provides our clients with an even easier and more cost effective solution to navigating global markets, while guaranteeing true organic compliance through an internationally endorsed set of standards.”

With entrance into the Family of Standards, FVO joins an elite group of 45 organic standards and regulations around the world that have been verified as meeting the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards, agreed upon by the IFOAM membership and endorsed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and the UN Conference on Trade & Development (UNCTAD). Clients can contact International Certification Services, Inc. (ICS, Inc.) for information on using the new IFOAM Family of Standards Logo.

The IFOAM Family of Standards is a tool that enables multi-lateral equivalence for organic standards and regulations, providing “regulated but streamlined” market access for organic products. In dealing with import approvals, IFOAM, FAO, and UNCTAD have recommended that governments adopt an equivalence approach, using methods as efficient as possible to approve a large number of national organic regulations as equivalent to theirs.