In Germany, state-approved bodies for farms producing organic food (in Austria, Bio-Kontrollstelle). The inspection bodies carry out an initial inspection and certification of a farm according to the criteria of the EU Organic Regulation. Thereafter, a notified annual inspection is carried out, but also unnotified spot checks. If the inspection is positive, the EU organic label and, if applicable, an association label may be used. As a rule, if a farm is a member of one of the many organic associations (e.g. Bioland, Biokreis, Biopark, DEMETER, ECOLAND, ECOVIN, Naturland), inspections are also carried out according to their usually even stricter standards.
As honorary chairman of the Domäne Wachau, it is the easiest and quickest way for me to access the wein.plus encyclopaedia when I have questions. The certainty of receiving well-founded and up-to-date information here makes it an indispensable guide.
Hans-Georg Schwarz
Ehrenobmann der Domäne Wachau (Wachau)