Economic Concepts of Organic Certification

Certification is a key element in marketing organic food products. Based on economic theory, this report wants to illustrate the economic reasoning for certification. The intention is to provide a description of economic concepts, which is understandable for a wider audience. We are focusing on the basic economic literature. Chapter 1 “Organic certification system” describes the current control system in the European Union. Why this is necessary, will then be explained based on a synopsis of economic literature. Of specific significance for organic certification and the CERTCOST project are the concepts of institutional economics and economics of crime. The relevant points of economic theory will be presented and discussed in chapter 2 “Theoretical framework”. Finally, the costs and benefits of organic certification will be illustrated in chapter 3 “Costs and benefits of organic certification”

Modelling risk-based inspections in EU organic certification: data requirements and analysis tools

A Risk Based Inspection (RBI) scheme is a planning tool used to develop the optimum plan for the execution of inspection activities. Organic certification system could benefit from the implementation of RBIs in terms of higher effectiveness, i.e. trustability, and lower transaction costs for organic operators. Data from certification bodies provide basic information about non-compliances and structural aspects of organic operators. Here we propose a methodological approach to risk analysis modelling, based on discrete choice models and Bayesian networks, both aiming at the identification of key risk factor in the organic certification process in the European Union

Die Überwachung der Öko-Kontrolle in Deutschland – ein Ansatzpunkt zur Erhöhung des Verbrauchervertrauens

Die Analyse der im Jahre 2007 von Deutschland an die Europäische Kommission zu deren Überwachung des Kontrollsystems gemeldeten Daten offenbart signifikante Unterschiede im Kontroll- und Sanktionsverhalten zwischen einzelnen Kontrollstellen. Dieser Beitrag versucht auf der Basis der vorliegenden Daten, die Unterschiede zu erklären und diskutiert weitere, mögliche Einflussfaktoren

Organic controls in Germany – is there a need to harmonize?

Organic food markets substantially rely on a reliable control system. To identify and isolate the effect of different factors potentially influencing the uniform implementation of organic controls, we apply a stepwise estimation of different logit models. Using control data of German farms from five important control bodies we identify, first, risk factors for non-compliance of farms, second, the impact of the control body as well as, third, the potential impact of governmental institutions which are in charge for the implementation of the control system. The results indicate a need for a more harmonized implementation of the German organic control system

Analyse der Kontroll- und Sanktionshäufigkeiten großer Öko-Kontrollstellen in Deutschland

Die Vermarktung von ökologischen Lebensmitteln in Deutschland ist an die Einhaltung der entsprechenden europäischen Rahmenvorschrift geknüpft. Bis Ende 2008 war dies die Verordnung (EWG) Nr. 2092/91, deren Einhaltung durch die Öko-Lebensmittelwirtschaft in Deutschland von privaten Kontrollstellen überprüft wurde. Die privaten Kontrollstellen melden im Rahmen der gesetzlich vorgeschriebenen Überwachung Daten zu Kontroll- und Sanktionshäufigkeiten der Unternehmen an die Behörden der Länder (Überwachung auf Bundeslandebene) und an die Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung (BLE). Die BLE ist für den Transfer der Daten an die Europäische Kommission (Überwachung auf EU-Ebene) verantwortlich. Dieser Beitrag analysiert die an die Europäische Kommission gemeldeten Daten des Jahres 2006. Dabei werden für die neun größten deutschen Öko-Kontrollstellen einerseits die Art der durchgeführten Kontrollen, deren absolute und relative Häufigkeit und die Kontrollergebnisse (insbesondere Verstöße und schwere Sanktionen) betrachtet. Zum Anderen wird der Frage nachgegangen, ob bei der relativen Sanktionshäufigkeit der kontrollierten Unternehmen Unterschiede zwischen verschiedenen Öko-Kontrollstellen bestehen. Darauf aufbauend werden zwei grundlegende Erklärungsansätze für die vorgefundenen signifikant unterschiedlichen Sanktionshäufigkeiten diskutiert. Schließlich werden die Anforderungen an Daten zur näheren Analyse dieser Ansätze beschrieben

Laser induced forward transfer of SnO2 for sensing applications using different precursors systems

This paper presents the transfer of SnO2 by laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) for gas sensor applications. Different donor substrates of SnO2 with and without triazene polymer (TP) as a dynamic release layer were prepared. Transferring these films under different conditions were evaluated by optical microscopy and functionality. Transfers of sputtered SnO2 films do not lead to satisfactory results and transfers of SnO2 nanoparticles are difficult. Transfers of SnO2 nanoparticles can only be achieved when applying a second laser pulse to the already transferred material, which improves the adhesion resulting in a complete pixel. A new approach of decomposing the transfer material during LIFT transfer was developed. Donor films based on UV absorbing metal complex precursors namely, SnCl2(acac)2 were prepared and transferred using the LIFT technique. Transfer conditions were optimized for the different systems, which were deposited onto sensor-like microstructures. The conductivity of the transferred material at temperatures of about 400∘C are in a range usable for SnO2 gas sensors. First sensing tests were carried out and the transferred material proved to change conductivity when exposed to ethanol, acetone, and methan

CERTCOST – Ökonomische Analyse von Bio-Kontrollsystemen auf EU Ebene

The EU funded project CERTCOST proposes to combine the experience and knowledge of both researchers and SMEs to analyse the implementation of organic certification systems and to estimate all relevant expenditures or transaction costs for different certification systems along the organic food supply chain. Benefits of certification will also be analysed, using data on consumers’ recognition and willingness to pay for different organic logos and trademarks. Finally, recommendations will be drawn for the EU Commission, national competent authorities and private actors in organic food and farming on how to increase effectiveness and efficiency of organic certification