ICEA

Organisation (Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale = Institute for Certification concerning Ethics and Environment) with headquarters in Bologna, Italy for the control and certification of companies. One of its principles is that, in addition to ecological (environmental) aspects, its activities should also take into account ethical and social values for the rights and dignity of workers in production, as well as consumer protection in the products.

The business unit includes products from organic farming as well as products and processes from other bio-oriented industries. These include food (organic production and organic aquaculture) and non-food (organic cosmetics and detergents, organic textiles, organic furniture, materials for buildings, sustainable management of green spaces).

In addition, research and development activities concerning ecological innovation of products and processes are carried out and trade fairs, award events and campaigns are organised. Its customers so far include 14,500 companies throughout Europe (as of 2014). In viticulture, certifications for organic farms are carried out. Other similar internationally active organisations for organic certification are ECOCERT and SGS. All of them can act differently per country as one of the state-approved organic or eco-control bodies. For more information on this topic, see also Organic (Ecological) Viticulture.