1. Governmental Organic Regulations USDA National Organic Program NOP
For marketing a product as organic
on these markets, the products need to be certified according to the standard
JAS Organic Standard

2. Private Organic Labels
Source: IFOAM Organic Agriculture in the Tropics

3. Why an Internal Organic Standard?
Governmental regulations and private organic standards are often very difficult to read and designed for the farming situation in western countries. They cannot easily be understood by local farmers or field staff and not all aspects of the standard are applicable.
Many projects wish to be certified according to different organic and non-organic (e.g., EUREPGAP, HACCP) standards.
Therefore each ICS project should define its own internal organic standard and describe the organic production rules for the specific local conditions, including all important requirements from all applicable standards.
The internal organic standard can always exceed the relevant organic standard (for which certification shall be granted) but cannot be lower.

4. Minimum Requirements for Internal Organic Standard
1.The internal organic standard must summarize the farm production requirements of the relevant external organic regulations as far as these requirements are important and relevant to the organic activities.
2.It must be presented in an appropriate form, according to the knowledge of the ICS staff.
3.The minimum requirements of the standard must be communicated clearly to all farmers.

5. Minimum Content of Internal Organic Standard
The internal organic standard addresses the following topics:
Definition of the production unit plus how to deal with partial conversion (e.g. farmers still grow some conventional crops as well).
Farm production rules for the whole organic production unit (e.g. seeds, fertilization & sustainable soil management, plant-protection, list of authorized products, prevention of drift, livestock husbandry).
Harvest and post-harvest procedures.
Conversion period & requirements for new farmers.

6. Principles of Organic Production To Be Included in Internal Organic Standard
Sustainable soil management
green manure
cover crops, mulching
compost (plant residues, livestock manure)
restricted use of mineral fertilizers
no chemical fertilizer (e.g. no urea)
Plant protection and organic seeds
control of pests, diseases, weeds by appropriate cultivation measures, mechanical measures, protection of natural enemies
restricted use of organic pesticides
no chemical pesticides
organic seeds/planting stock; conventional material only under certain conditions
no GMO
Animal husbandry
animal friendly keeping
organic fodder where possible, restricted medication

7. How is the Internal Organic Standard Developed?
Choice of organic certification standard(s)
Analysis of local situation
What aspects of standard(s) are relevant for us?
Do we want to demand more than just the
very minimum? Which positive management instructions are necessary for sustainable organic farming?
Summarize the most important aspects of organic production in our farming system
Draft of Internal Organic Standard
Are the requirements so clear and easy to
understand that farmers and field staff will
know what to do?
Internal approval procedures
Approved Internal Organic Standard

8. Example Internal Organic Standard: Spices in Agroforestry
The whole farm is certified and the following rules apply to all crops and fields
The farmer has to convert his/her whole farm land (all crops) to organic, i.e. it is not permitted to use artificial fertilizer or pesticide/herbicide on any part of the farm.
If there is still a conventional field (only rice or tea allowed) owned by the farmer, this field has to be a clearly separate area (marked on the map) and may not rotate to organic areas. Also great care has to be taken to prevent drift of chemicals from conventional areas.
The farmer is not allowed to use any off-farm inputs (fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, herbicides, etc) except those for which he/she has been explicitly been granted permission by the internal inspector (who receives approved list from ICS manager). Naturally grown (botanical) fertilizers/pesticides can be used, but also need to be announced to the internal control before use. Use must be documented.
The farmer is obliged to ensure soil fertility by appropriate cultivation measures (mulching, legumes cover crops, green manure etc.) and to minimize erosion.
All seeds/seedlings used must originate from organic farms or else a confirmation has to be requested that they are neither genetically modified nor treated with pesticides.
The farmer is not allowed to store any unallowed inputs on the farm.
During the drying of pepper and cloves, great care must be taken to prevent any mixing with not-certified spices.
For new farmers the last use of unallowed inputs is investigated. At least three years of conversion are necessary after the last application

9. Background: Scope of Organic Regulations
Internal
organic
standard
Organic Crop Production Requirements
Livestock Production Requirements
Labelling Requirements
Included
in ICS
requirements
Inspection Requirements
Import Provisions