Miljøprojekt, 900 – Produktorienteret miljøindsats i landbrugssektoren - forudsætninger – Bilag E - Systems for assurance of farm production in Western Europe

In this paper, a short overview of assurance schemes for farm production and farm products in Western Europe is presented. Important keywords such as standards, inspection and accreditation, traceability and labelling are discussed.

2 Conclusion

The conclusions of this State of the Art report are:

The association that develops and oversees the assurance scheme should be independent and have a large influence from consumers (British experiences).
It takes a lot of resources to market and inform about the assurance system and the label (Swedish and British experiences).
There seems to be different directions in how the assurance systems develop:
- A wide concept with "baseline scenarios" according to Good Agriculture Practice (The British scheme and probably the direction the Swedish scheme will take).
- A narrow concept with stricter environmental regulations than GAP in the criteria for labelling (The Suisse and Dutch schemes)
Animal welfare is very emphasised in the assurance systems, maybe even more than environmental protection.
Inspection and accreditation of farm production seem to be going towards harmonisation in Western Europe.
Many new initiatives to develop assurance systems of farm production for better control of food safety, environmental protection and animal welfare have started only the last years in Western Europe.

3 Sweden

3.1 ISO 14001 and ISO 9002 (Skånemejerier)

These schemes are used for assurance of the complete product chain by Skånemejerier (Sk.M), the most southern dairy company in Sweden, owned by 1100 dairy farmers. The company is certified according to EMAS, ISO 9001 and 14001.

Scope
The idea of Sk.M is to work with the environment in the whole chain, from production of raw material and all the way to the distribution of their products to the market^[161]. Since it is known from LCA:s of consumer milk that farm production is the part of the chain where the largest environmental impact occurs, focus has been put on the farm level. More than half of the farmers (and owners) in Sk.M have signed up for an "Environmental bonus" which for example demands them to make yearly nutrient flow analysis of their farms and to participate in yearly education on environmental issues and animal welfare. For doing these measures, they are payed 0,03 SEK/liter milk extra.

An additional environmental effort is done in certifying 14 dairy farms to ISO 9002 and 14001. The 14 farms produce 17 million kg milk per year and the milk from these farms is used in special products that are labelled and have full traceability. The milk from the ISO certified dairy farms are processed in a special dairy. The hired company transporting the milk to the dairy is also certified. Thereby, the whole chain from dairy farm to final distribution is certified.

Products
From the ISO-farms: Sour milk with local flavours (Öresundsfil) which is sold both in Skåne and in the Copenhagen area.

Youghurt (Kalvin) and flavoured milk (Kalvin) which are special products for children.

Standards/criteria
The idea of ISO 14001 is to work with on-going improvement measures in the company. The ISO-farms do yearly nutrient balance, this work has shown a lower use of fertiliser in the production. Chemical weed control is not used in the leys producing fodder to the animal. Chemicals used for cleaning and udder treatment are environmentally assured through a mutual system for the Swedish dairy sector^[162]. An emission report of the dairy farm are put together yearly.

Inspection and accreditation
The ISO farms are inspected yearly by Norske Veritas or SEMKO (approved certification instititutions by SWEDAC). Skånemejerier pays the revision for the dairy farmers.

Traceability
Since the farms have to document all their inputs of goods and measurers in the milk production, the traceability in this system is very good. For example, samples are taken from all purchased feed, the samples are sealed and saved together with the analysis report from the feed factory for three months.

Labelling and consumer information
The package of the products "Öresundsfil" and "Kalvin" (children‘s product) are labelled with ISO 14001 and informs about the system. On Skånemejeriers website^[163] the consumer can find information about the whole certified chain. The 14 ISO-farms are presented, with pictures and information of the single farms.

Experiences (farmers)
One of the ISO dairy farms was interviewed in Husdjur in 2002 about its experience of farm assurance according to ISO^[164]. The farm with 150 cows, started the certification work in 1998 and finished it in 1999. The total cost for ISO certification on this farm is estimated at 250 000 SEK including the own work of the farmer couple. The farmer claims it has been a good investment, since a lot of knowledge of the farm‘s strength and weakness have been gained. However, the farmer confess that it has been much more work that they had anticipated before the start but the assistance from Sk.M has meant a lot to them in the process.

When the ISO-system now is running on the farm, it takes about 200 hours per year to maintain it. Two times per year there are internal revision and once per year an external revision from Norsk Veritas.

3.2 ISO 14-001 and ISO 9002 (the Wapnö dairy)

Wapnö^[165] is the largest dairy farm in Sweden with more than 500 cows in production. This large estate has started an individual dairy and is now in control of the whole chain, from fodder production to distribution. Animal welfare and environmental protection are key words for this company, Wapnö is certified according to ISO 14001.

Scope
The idea of Wapnö is to produce high quality dairy products for the local market. Fresh products and an open attitude towards the consumers are the base for Wapnö. The products are sold on the local market in the south of the county of Halland (south west Sweden) and the customers are within 10 to maximum 50 kilometers from the production.

Products
Different varities of consumer milk, sour milk, youghurt and cream.

Standards/criteria
The estate has around 1300 ha arable land and most of this area is in organic production. That means that a large part of the fodder is produced without pesticide. However, the milk production of Wapnö is not certified according to the organic labelling system KRAV in Sweden SE BILAG D since they feel that the extra value of the production is that of closeness to the market, not the pure organic principles. Animal welfare is very much emphasised and consumers are welcome at any time to visit the farm and the dairy. Due to the ISO system, there is a on-going work of improvement in the farm‘s environmental standards.

Inspection and accreditation
early independent inspection according to the ISO standard.

Labelling and consumer information
Wapnö has their own packages and these are well labelled with information of the production and the work of environment protection and animal welfare. They have a informative website and arranges study tours of the whole production chain of the farm for schools and other interested groups. At any time, consumers are welcome to visit the estate and study the animals.

Experiences
Wapnö has a good reputation on the local market and although the price of one litre of consumer milk is approximately 0,50 SEK per litre higher in the store than the ordinary Arla milk, their market share is increasing. One cause for this is that after the fusion between Arla and MD Foods, the local Arla dairy for consumer milk is closing down and the idea of milk produced close to the market is obvious an idea that interests the consumers in the area. Wapnö is now expanding their production and is planning for an increase in the number of cows of around 50%.

3.3 Svenskt Sigill (Swedish Seal)

This assurance system was started a few years ago by Lantmännen^[166] (The Swedish Farmers Supply and Crop Marketing Association) to assure production of grain for human consumption. In 2002, the label and the assurance system were bought by the LRF (The Federation of Swedish Farmers)^[167]. Svenskt Sigill^[168] (Sv.S) is now a quality label owned by Sigill Kvalitetssystem AB – a daughter company of the LRF.

Scope
Sv.S is a quality label of food production that guarantees that the raw material has been produced on Swedish farms that fulfil high demands for:

safe food
animal welfare
environmental concern
varied cultural landscapes

230 000 ton grain is today produced on Swedish farms according to Sv. S. This volume corresponds to 25% of the cereal use for human consumption in Sweden.

Products

Axa porridge oats (Cerealia Foods)
Korvbrödbagarens korvbröd (sausage bread)(Cerealia bakeries)
Kungsörnens meal (housholds) (Cerealia mills)
Skogaholms bread (Skogaholms)
Bakery meals (bakeries) (Nordmills)
Absolut vodka (The Absolut Company only use wheat produced according to Sv. S, but do not label the vodka products.)

Some smaller bakeries use only locally produced grain labelled Sv. S.

Since Lantmännnen started Sv.S for grain products, the development has reached furthest in this segment. Sigill Kvalitetssystem AB is currently working with setting standard schemes for poultry and honey.

Standards/criteria

Certified, non gene-modified seed.
Soil analyses according to Good Agricultural Practice (GAP).
Manure analyses at least every 5:th year.
Chemical plant protection according to need and GAP (restricted).
No chemical application for weed control later than Oct 25th.
Indicators for energy use under development, no standards yet.
"Buffer zones" close to rivers and streams.
Upper limit of Cadmium in soil as well as in the grain.

Inspection and accreditation
The control of the assurance system Svenskt Sigill is done in three steps:

The farmer/grower controls his own farm through a special guideline for control (kind of check-list).
Lantmännen (special trained staff) makes a "second-part-control" on more than a third of the farms each year.
An independent "third-part-control" is done by SEMKO-DEKRA Certification AB^[169]. SEMKO controls the farmers‘ and Lantmännen‘s "self-made" controll and do random inspection on every 10th farm.
SEMKO also certifies silos and stores for grain at Lantmännen and controls the administrative part of Svenskt Sigill.

Traceability
The farm has to make records of all inputs in the production. The data are collected and put together, and the traceability seems to be good. For example, when an LCA of hamburger bread from Cerealias bakery in Örebro was performed, the wheat meal could be traced back to farmers and a mill in the county of Östergötland^[170]. Specific data could be obtained concering inputs, transports etc.

Labelling and consumer information
Products on the market where the raw materials are certified according to Sv. S are labelled with a brand (sun in the sky above a green field, probably symbolising the colours in the Swedish flag). Sv. S has a comprehensive website^[171] with information about the assurance system, certified products and links to companies that label their products with Svenskt Sigill.

Experiences (farmers)
Around 700 farmers are signed to Sv.S. A farmer interviewed in the Dagens Nyheter^[172] express that he is pleased with the system. He thinks the documentation is good, because it provides valuable information on all of the inputs and outputs on the farm. This farm has reduced their N-fertilisation by 20 kg N/ha and reduced the pesticide use by 25%.

Another farmer was interviewed in the new information-brochure "Svenskt Sigill" which is to be distributed four times per year from Svenskt Sigill^[173]. This farmer has always tried to be restrictive with fertilisers and pesticides. The biggest change for him when certifying according to Sv.S was the creation of all the buffer zones along the streams on the farm. Five hectare (out of 380 ha) is taken out of production due to this standard. Also this farmer claims that the documentation work is good but it is the part of the system that requires the largest input of working hours.

Grains produced according to Sv.S is payed with 0,05 SEK/kg grain extra.

Experiences (market)
The Swedish LRF that owns Sv.S are now starting a campaign to market the label "Svenskt Sigill". It is not very known among consumers and so far it is mostly through the products porridge oat and meal that the consumer can see the label today. The newspaper Dagens Nyheter recently had a large article which was quite critical towards more label systems of food. DN had made an poll among farmers certified according to Sv. S and more than half of the farmers answered that they had not significantly reduced their use of fertilisers or pesticide after starting to cultivate according to Sv. S.

"So what‘s the point ?" ask Dagens Nyheter and are answered by Sv.S that the documentation and traceability is very useful and that this is a long term project. In the article, the environmental director of the large retailer COOP says that people who wants to buy environmentally friendly food should go for the organic label KRAV. However, he says that the documentation of the certified farms is a good thing and he thinks it is useful to know the origin of the meal and how it has been grown.

4 United Kingdom

4.1 Little Red Tractor

Different British Farm Standards (BFS) have been gathered under the brand "Little Red Tractor"^[174]. BFS ensure that farmers and growers produce food to a set of agreed standards of Good Agriculture Practice (GAP). Assurance Food Standards (AFS) is an umbrella body for the different assurance schemes in UK. AFS was established in June 2000 and is the independent organisation that was set up to manage the little red tractor stamp of approval. AFS set the standards that must be achieved before the logo can be used on food and AFS license for producers, processors and packers who meet the standards. AFS ensure that the logo is only used on food that deserves to carry it.

Scope
The food logo Red Tractor can be found on beef, lamb, pork, chicken, milk, cereals, vegetables, fruit and salads. The UK is a world leader in farm assurance with more than 78000 farmers and growers committed to the assurance schemes that supply between 65% and 90% of output in the main commodity sectors. Different assurance systems operate in six different production sectors:

beef and lamb
pork
poultry
dairy
vegetables
cereals and oilseeds.

Products
Baseline schemes (which are aiming to increase general standards) that are eligible to use the Red Tractor are^[175]:

Assured Produce Scheme – Fruit, vegetables and salad.
Assured Combinable Crops Scheme – Cereals, oilseeds, pulses
National Dairy Farmers Assurance Scheme – Milk and dairy products
Assured Chicken Production – Chicken
Assured British Pigs – Pork, bacon and ham
Assured British Meat – Beef and lamb
Farm Assured British Beef and Lamb – Beef and lamb
Farm Assured Welsh Livestock – Beef and Lamb
N Irish Beef and Lamb Quality AS – Beef and lamb

Food Assurance systems in the UK cover between 65 and 85% of the food production which means that a great number of British products today are marked with the Red Tractor.

Standards/criteria
AFS assurance schemes set standards that are based on existing legislation and codes of good practice.

The standards for milk includes food safety, animal welfare, feed (records of feed, feed supplier according to law) and care of countryside (grazing emphasised).

The standards for cereals, vegetables and fruit includes harvesting routines, storing, fertiliser and pesticides should be use as "sparingly" as possible, records of pesticide use for three years and that DEFRAS Codes of Practices for Air, Soil and Water^[176] are followed.

Inspection and accrediation
The British Assured Food Standards schemes are accredited, or committed to achieve accreditation according to the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS). All producers belonging to a AFS assurance scheme are regularly inspected (usually annually) by independent inspectors certified by EN45011.

The production of cereals, oilseeds, pulses, fruits, vegetables, chicken is inspected by Checkmate International.^[177]

Beef, lamb and pork are inspected by EFSIS.^[178]

Milk production is inspected by LANTRA.

Traceability
Beef has the best traceability and can be tracked all the way back to the animal‘s birth. Other animals can be tracked down to a specific flock or herd. Vegetables can be traced back to the grower and cereals should be able to trace back to a group of farms.^[179]

Labelling and consumer information
After two years with the Red Tractor mark, a survey conducted in the autumn 2002, indicated that 30% of the British Consumers recognised the logo but had limited knowledge of the values of the assurance schemes. People also wrongly assumed the Red Tractor log to indicate a British Product but the logo can also be used on produce sourced outside the UK.

Experiences
The Food Standard Agency made a review of Food Assurance schemes in UK and made three recommendations for the future development of Food Assurance Schemes^[180]:

There should be an independent, regulatory body to oversee the Assured Food Standards Red Tractor schemes. Today it is a producer-led approach, instead there should be better consumer representation and independently chaired.
Minimum core criteria should be established for individual schemes. These core criteria should be applied throughout all the schemes and cover areas like consumer involvement, transparency, accreditation etc.
The schemes should cooperate more

5 France

5.1 Agri Confiance

Agri Confiance is a quality assurance system that structures and formalise the relationship between the farmer/grower and the cooperative organisation that collects and process the agriculture products. The initiative to Agri Confiance comes from the cooperative organisations in food and agriculture in France.

5.1.1 Scope

The idea of Agri Confiance^[181] is to give the consumers greater safety, health, satisfaction and traceability guarantees. Agri Confiance certifies the flow and quality of the flow of products, from farm production to processing. During the last years, Agri Confiance has started to integrate also environmental standards in the system.

The Agri Confiance program is developed in compliance with ISO 9002 which the cooperative enterprises are certified according to. These enterprises set standards for their producers/farmers. The development of also including environmental protection was started in 1997 and in this work ISO 14001 is an important base. In 2001, this development work resulted in the reference guide "System of management of quality and environment in the agricultural production".

79 certificates of Agri Confiance are today given to cooperative enterprises and they include 22 400 producers/growers. Of these, two certificates are Agri Confidence Quality-Environment, i.e. enterprises that has certified according to the new program that also integrate environmental standards.

5.1.2 Products

Cooperatives certified according to Agri Confiance represent a variety of products: Grain, industrial vegetables, milk products, pork, wine, tobacco and forest products.

5.1.3 Standards and Criteria

The certification Agri Confidence Quality-Environment guarantees the engagement of the cooperatives and their members in three fields:

Resource management
Waste management
Management of the landscape (e.g. maintaing natural wetland areas )

Since the system origins from ISO 14000, the dominant idea is the on-going process of improvement.

5.1.4 Inspection and accreditation

It takes about three years to reach the certification of Agri Confiance. The certificate is issued for three years with a yearly control. The certification processes and controls are guaranteed by independent certifiers: SGS-ICS, AFAQ and BVQI.

5.1.5 Traceability

The producers/growers of the cooperatives must carry out a complete follow-up of production and keep records of all interventions in the production, in order to control the traceability of the products.

5.1.6 Labelling and consumer information

So far, Agri Confiance does not normally include labelling of the products. However, in 2001 work has started to develop the recognition of Agri Confiance to customers and to develop the label Agri Confiance as a signature for cooperative companies.

6 The Netherlands

6.1 Milieukeur

Milieukeur^[182] is managed by an independent organisation in which consumers, manufacturers, retail, government and environment organisations participate. According to the organisation, once a product has been awarded the Milieukeur, this means that it is less damaging to the environment compared to most similar products.

6.1.1 Scope

The Stichting Milieukeur has been developing environment criteria for agricultural products and foodstuffs since 1995. The number of products for which Milieukeur criteria have been formulated is increasing steadily, varying from potatoes, fruit and vegetables to pork and plants. The Milieukeur can be found on photocopying paper, stationary, labels, chairs, shoes, linoleum, writing pads, toilet paper, car polishing products, car-washes, cat litter, organic waste base plates, plants and flowers, bread, apples, pears, onions, barley, wheat, apple juice, potatoes and other things.

6.1.2 Products (food)

Variety of flowers, vegetables, fruit, cereals, dairy products, fish products and pork. Poultry and beef are under development.

6.1.3 Standards/criteria

For vegetable and arable crops the emphasis in the standards are on pesticide use. Standards includes demands on:

Selecting chemical products with low environmental impact.
Biological control is encouraged.
The grower must have a crop protection plan.
The grower must have records of supply and use of pesticides.
Chemical decontamination of soil is forbidden.
Specific requirement for spraying equipment.
Record and plan for use of fertilisers.

In the Milieukeur criteria for farm-milk, the emphasis is on fertilizer application, acidification and energy because it is from this that the greatest benefit to the environment can be derived. There are also requirements regarding crop protection, heavy metals, drought, animal welfare, waste and nature and landscape.

Milieukeur criteria for pork are based on research in which all of the production in the chain is taken into consideration. In pork and pig-farming with Milieukeur certification, everything possible is done to alleviate the burden on the environment. Due to careful management and good housing, the environmental pollution of the air and soil is kept to as low a level as possible. There is obligatory registration of the mineral input. In the pig manure, stringent requirements are set on phosphate and mineral excretion. Requirements are also set for ammonia emissions. The use of energy is also recorded and has to be limited. The pig farm has to meet IKB (Integrated Chain Control) requirements and the animal feed has to be obtained from animal feed companies which operate in accordance with the GMP system (Good Manufacturing Practice).

Good care for the pigs important in Milieukeur and the good health of the pigs has a high priority. As far as the health of the animals is concerned, firstly a maximum mortality rate of 1% has been set and is a requirement regarding the occurrence of foot, lung and other organ problems.

The use of antibiotics in pig-feed is not permitted and antibiotics prescribed by a veterinary surgeon have to be registered.

Pig farms can only obtain Milieukeur certification as a whole concern. Milieukeur pork must come 100% from Milieukeur pigs (no combined products, in which more than one type of meat animal has been processed).

Finally the packaging of meat products with Milieukeur certification has to meet specific requirements

6.1.4 Inspection and accreditation

Agricultural Milieukeur products are inspected from cultivation to supermarket. This inspection guarantees that a Milieukeur product is actually produced according to the Milieukeur criteria. Certification institutes which have licensee for Stichting Milieukeur assess that the production follow the standards, e.g. ECAS B.V.^[183] and FoodCert-NL/NAK Agro^[184].

6.1.5 Traceability

According to M. the products can always be traced back to the source and that is why M. is easy to combine with quality inspection systems.

7 Suisse

7.1 IP-Suisse

IP-Suisse^[185] is an association of farmers and growers that has been working for ten years with Integrated Production. IP-Suisse has a decentralised structure and has a section of producers in each kanton of Suisse. Environmental protection and animal welfare in combination of high quality products is the base for IP-Suisse.

7.1.1 Scope

The goal of IP-Suisse is to create extra values in the field of environment and animal welfare for the consumers and to create possibilities for the farmers to receive an additional prize for producing these extra values. Earlier IP-Suisse was providing products more on a regional level but now some larger retailer (Migro, Coop and Hiestand) in Suisse are introducing more environmentally friendly products and in this development IP-Suisse is an important partner.

7.1.2 Products

Potatoes, apple wine, bread, meal, eggs, meat, pork, poultry, rape seed oil, and vegetables.

7.1.3 Standards/criteria

The standards are high in this assurance system, especially for the use of pesticides:

No use of growth regulators, fungicides and insecticides.
Mechanical weed control as long as possible.
Good crop rotation.
Catch crops to avoid leaching during winter.
Healthy varieties.
Soil and manure analyses.
Several criteria for animal welfare; area in stable, transport of animals etc.
Non GMO.

7.1.4 Inspection and accreditation

The IP-Suisse farms are controlled anually by certifying companies which are accredited according to EN 45011^[186] The post-farm processing is also controlled annually.

7.1.5 Traceability

The traceablility is good in this system and the consumers‘safety and trust seem to be of top priority in this assurance system.

7.1.6 Labelling and consumer information

All the certified products are labelled with the mark of IP-Suisse, a ladybird. The consumer information seems to be very ambitious and the website is very much oriented towards the consumers.

7.1.7 Experiences

IP-Suisse seems to be in an expansive stage. For example, there is a lack of IP-Suisse wheat and more growers are needed.

8 Germany

8.1 QS, Qualität und Sicherheit

Enterprises from the feedstuff sector, agriculture, meat production and processing, the food retailing trade and the Central Marketing Organization of German Agricultural Industries CMA (Centrale Marketing-Gesellschaft der deutschen Agrarwirtschaft mbH) have together created a new comprehensive concept for ensuring product quality and origin, starting with meat and meat products in the autumn 2002. In order to implement this concept, the production, processing and marketing stages of the meat chain, along with the CMA in close cooperation with the Ministry for Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture, have formed an association - "QS^[187] - Quality and Safety for Food Products, from Producer to Consumer". The mutual idea is to make QS an alliance for active consumer protection.

8.1.1 Scope

The system includes meat products and the whole product chain; from feed industry to final trade and retailer. This assurance system is very much focused upon food safety and environment protection is of minor importance. However, there are strict standards and control for medicine use and storage as well as for residues of PCB and heavy metals etc in feed which indirectly has implication on environmental issues.

8.1.2 Products

Meat (pig, cattle, poultry) and processed meat products.

8.1.3 Standards/criteria

Criteria are set for the different stages in the whole life-cycle of the meat products:

Feed industry
Livestock farms
Slaughter/cutting
Processing
Trade.

Criteria for feed industry include approval of manufacturers of mixed fodder in accordance with EU guideline 95/96/EG, ISO 9001, implementation of HACCP, raw materials management, e.g. product specification in purchase contracts, prohibition of animal protein in feed except protein from dairy (milk) and fish, feed samples must be stored for three months and regular controls of PCB, heavy metals, aflatoxin etc.

Criteria for the livestock farms are that all purchased feed must come from QS-approved enterprises, no use of antibiotics in fodder and strict control of the medicine use, salmonella controls, animal welfare (e.g. stall climate) and environment; compliance of the Manure Ordinance (Dungeverordnung).

8.1.4 Inspection and accreditation

The licensee is inspected and assessed at irregular intervals and without warning for conformance with Q&S criteria by test institutes accredited to EN 45011. Self control is important at all levels. There are physical inspections and administrative inspections at all levels in the product‘s chain which means that the production is transparent through the whole chain.

The Federal Government officially recognises the system and monitors observations of the rules (control of controls).

8.1.5 Traceability

Within the system, traceability in the area of primary production from breeding through to slaughtering is ensured through identification of the animals and recording in a database. Through a systematic collection and recording of data, production becomes transparent for all involved and for the final consumer. The traceability seems to be very good in this system.

8.1.6 Labelling and consumer information

The CMA^[188] is responsible for grant of the mark and communications regarding the mark. Associated companies are permitted to use the mark subject to contract. In order to make the new mark known to a large number of consumers, CMA will communicate the role of the test mark as a proof of the new safety concept of the food product industry to a wider public.

9 Norway

9.1 Godt Norsk

Godt Norsk is an assurance system for quality and origin. It has a strong focus on Norwegian origin and was started in cooperation with the Norwegian government to work for competition strategies for Norwegian food. An important strategy for this assurance system is that it must be stronger than the Norwegian law and that the whole food chain is included.

9.1.1 Scope

The quality system "Godt Norsk"^[189] is owned by Matmerk, a foundation initiated by the Norwegian government in 1994. In the board of "Godt Norsk" there are member representatives from the whole food chain, from farmers union to retailer and also the Norwegian government (agriculture department).

9.1.2 9.1.3 Products

"Godt Norsk" includes all kind of food products: fruit, vegetables, meat, egg, dairy products, cereals, baby food and mushrooms. Only recently, Godt Norsk started a special label for smaller niche products. In 2002, there were 42 food companies having a total of 707 labelled products according to this assurance system.

9.1.4 Standards/criteria

No GMO-crops. No use of antibiotics or hormones in order to promote growth in animal production

The raw material must be of Norwegian origin, with the exception of primary products that are not able to be produced in Norway (for example spices).

Integrated use of pesticides with the goal of minimising use of pesticides In food processing, synthetic colour agents and nitrit are not allowed A continuous improvement work is emphasised

9.1.5 Inspection/accreditation

All inputs in the production must be documented and there is a yearly control to check that the standards are followed, as well good agricultural practice and that there is an on-going improvement work for quality and environment in the business.

9.1.6 Traceability

The traceability is high in this system, and the idea of including the whole food chain is very much emphasised.

9.1.7 Labeling and consumer information

All products are labelled and the consumer information seems to be comprehensive (see home-page). According to a consumer investigation 80 % of the consumers recognise the label and know that it stands for products of Norwegian origin. 50 % of the consumers associate the label with more specific standards such as no use antibiotics, hormones etc