How does a Farm Obtain Biocyclic Vegan Certification?

Axel Anders

Co-Founder at Biocyclic Vegan International (Adolf Hoops Society)

3 min read
11/12/2024
How does a Farm Obtain Biocyclic Vegan Certification?

Step-by-Step Guide to Biocyclic Vegan Certification for Farms

Biocyclic vegan agriculture is organic farming on a purely plant-based basis without commercial livestock farming. To market products with the Biocyclic Vegan Quality Seal, agricultural or horticultural producers, as well as trading and processing companies, must undergo a successful company inspection and certification according to the Biocyclic Vegan Standard.

The following is a brief overview of the steps required to obtain biocyclic vegan certification.

1. Initial consultation

The first step towards certification is to arrange a free-of-charge consultation with the non-profit organization Förderkreis Biozyklisch Veganer Anbau e.V. (in German-speaking countries) or Biocyclic Vegan International. The consultation aims to assess the farm's current practices and draw up a customized conversion plan to fulfill the biocyclic vegan guidelines.

2. Conversion period

To be certified, farms must also receive the EU organic certification. During the conversion period of a conventional farm, they may label their products with the grey quality label "Produced in preparation for biocyclic vegan certification" as soon as it complies with the Biocyclic Vegan Standard.

Farms certified in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation must prove during the farm inspection that the Biocyclic vegan Standards were already complied with in the previous growing season.

3. Determination of the Biocyclic Operation Index (BOI)

The assessment of the BOI is free of charge and takes place after the initial consultation and before the initial inspection. The determination is carried out on-site by the respective organization. The index is used to identify the interactions between a cultivated area and its natural and/or anthropogenic environment. This includes efforts to promote biodiversity, measures to maintain soil fertility, and product safety concerning contamination. This enables an overall analysis of the weak points of the entire farm to be carried out so that corrective measures can be discussed to ensure that nothing stands in the way of admission for the initial inspection.

4. Membership in a biocyclic vegan country organization

Companies wishing to be certified must be members of a national organization recognized by the Adolf Hoops-Gesellschaft gGmbH / Biocyclic Vegan International, which aims to promote biocyclic vegan agriculture. In German-speaking countries, this is done by the Förderkreis Biozyklisch-Veganer Anbau e. V., which offers support during the transition to biocyclic vegan agriculture and beyond.

5. Label use agreement

A further prerequisite for admission to the inspection procedure is the signing of the label use agreement with BVL Biocyclic Vegan Label Ltd. The agreement regulates the subsequent use of the Biocyclic Vegan label and its associated regulations (e.g., the system contribution and specific regulations on product labeling).

6. Inspection and certification

The inspection, ideally carried out in combination with the EU organic audit, assesses compliance with the biocyclic vegan guidelines. In addition to the agricultural or horticultural business itself, any external processing facilities are also inspected. After the inspection, the company receives a report summary, which lists any infringements of the guidelines. BVL Biocyclic Vegan Label Ltd. analyses the report and issues the biocyclic vegan operation certificate - possibly subject to certain conditions. As soon as the annual contribution invoice has been paid in full, the biocyclic vegan operation certificate is handed over to the operation.

Picture13.png

7. Combination with other organic standards

The Biocyclic Vegan Standard can be applied simultaneously with other organic standards, provided that agricultural animal husbandry or the use of fertilizers and other animal-derived inputs is not mandatory.

8. External communication

Certified farms are obliged to label their products accordingly and always use the biocyclic vegan quality seal. In addition, efforts should be made to mention and publicize biocyclic vegan agriculture in external communication to promote it and raise public awareness.

To summarise, the certification process for biocyclic vegan agriculture requires careful planning and an ongoing commitment to environmentally conscious practices. By following biocyclic vegan agriculture principles, companies can contribute to a more sustainable and ethical future.

Further and more detailed information can be found in the Biocyclic Vegan Growers’ Guide, a comprehensive introductory guide to biocyclic vegan agriculture, as well as on the website of Biocyclic Vegan International.

Axel Anders
Co-Founder at Biocyclic Vegan International (Adolf Hoops Society)

More from Axel Anders

3 min read  ·  Dec 11, 2024
3 min read  ·  Dec 11, 2024
6 min read
View more articles