Organic quality

Organic quality

Enjoyment and good food are important to us. Therefore, we pay attention to high quality in all areas. The original flavour of our products is mainly due to the organically grown raw materials. Our key to success for natural products: We combine the special abilities of nature with gentle cultivation and considerate processing of the raw materials. Sounds simple – but requires consistent adherence to high quality standards.

Since the high quality of our organic products is our top priority, the Quality Assurance (QA) department plays a key role in our company. For example, the experienced team carries out intensive merchandise inspections. The documentation and monitoring of every single step along the supply chain is also one of the QA department’s tasks in order to ensure complete traceability and transparency of our products.

Independent inspections are frequently carried out as part of the various certifications for Bio-Zentrale. Our quality assurance team coordinates these individual dates, which ensure and validate the quality of our products.

Quality assurance

In addition to the organic certification in accordance with EU Organic Regulation No. 834/2007, Bio-Zentrale has also been IFS-certified since 2004. The International Featured Standard (IFS) recognised by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) audits food companies. These inspections ensure food safety and the quality of the processes and products.

At Bio-Zentrale, a comprehensive catalogue of requirements is examined during the annual IFS audit. For example, a functioning HACCP system is a prerequisite. This systematic approach stands for ‘Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point’ (HACCP), i.e. a comprehensive hazard analysis that is used to ensure the safety of food and to exclude any health hazards to the consumer.

As part of IFS certification, the specifications applied for supplier selection and evaluation are also checked. It goes without saying that our quality assurance team must also provide evidence during such audits to show that all outsourced processes are carried out in accordance with the high quality and safety requirements.

Organic farming/cultivation

The ultimate goal of organic farming is to produce natural and high-quality food without chemical impurities. For this reason, conscientious treatment of nature and its resources (soils, plants, animals and people) is a priority.

As a supplier of organically grown food, we have been committed to the principles of organic farming for more than 40 years. Among others, these principles include the following:

• Soil fertility: Preservation and promotion, for example through sensible crop rotation and organic fertilisation. Soil does not only serve the plants as a location, but also plays a key role in its nutrition and health.
• No chemical crop protection: No use of synthetic chemical pesticides. Instead, the plant’s own defences are reinforced, e.g. by promoting beneficial organisms and selecting species and varieties appropriate to the location. This serves to protect the natural foundations of life: soil, water and air.
• Species-appropriate animal husbandry: Species-appropriate husbandry and feeding so that the animals can fulfil their natural needs, such as food intake, personal hygiene, social contacts, locomotion and rest.
• Non-GMO: The use of genetic engineering is prohibited in organic farming because it is not compatible with the principles of organic farming. Therefore, genetic engineering in any form (e.g. in plant seeds and animal feed) is rejected.
• Active environmental, nature and species protection: We are committed to the promotion of biodiversity – i.e. species diversity as well as genetic diversity within and between species as well as the diversity of ecosystems and landscape regions.
• Gentle use of energy and raw material resources: We are careful in the use of our resources, for example, through the use of solar energy.
• Support for organic farming: Through our long-term and fair relationships with farmers, we promote the natural cycle that leads from soil to robust plants and ultimately animals to food.

In summary: Organic farming is good for the environment, people and animals. It promotes biodiversity in our soil and in the air. Organic farmers do not use synthetic chemical pesticides and they keep animals in a species-appropriate manner.

The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture has set up a central internet portal on organic farming. At www.oekolandbau.de you will find comprehensive information on the demanding legal standards of the EU Organic Regulation, the organic seal, agriculture and processing, trade and topics such as ‘organic in everyday life’.