About IOIA

Who is IOIA?

The International Organic Inspectors Association (IOIA) is a professional, non-profit association of organic farm, livestock, and processing inspectors. IOIA provides comprehensive organic inspector training worldwide, promotes consistency and integrity in the certification process, and addresses issues and concerns relevant to organic inspectors. Our goals include improvement of the inspection process and providing the inspector community with a voice in the organic industry. IOIA was founded in 1991 by organic inspectors who recognized the need for uniform inspection processes and protocols, to build inspector skills, and promote public confidence. In 2008, our membership voted to change the name of the association to better recognize our international scope.

IOIA currently has 226 members in 16 countries. IOIA has an office in Broadus, Montana, USA and a 5 member Board of Directors. IOIA Committees include Accreditation, Bylaws, Canadian, Communications, Finance, Latin American, Membership, and Training. The membership meets annually at various locations in North and Central America.

IOIA offers supporting membership opportunities for individuals, businesses, organizations, and certification agencies. Individual supporting members include persons interested in the inspection process, representatives of organic food manufacturers, and representatives of certification groups. IOIA currently has over 125 supporting members.

IOIA coordinates inspector trainings for beginning and experienced inspectors, assists in industry networking, and publishes inspector manuals and resource materials. IOIA courses are recognized internationally. IOIA has conducted numerous inspector training courses in the US, Canada, Central America, South America, Australia, Japan, and other parts of the world. There are 2 major types of trainings: those sponsored by IOIA alone and regional trainings co-sponsored upon request from other groups who assist in logistics and organization. IOIA is open to training requests from any group, provided IOIA criteria are used as the basis for the course and IOIA-approved Training Coordinators coordinate the course.

IOIA has published Inspection Manuals, a Training Coordinator Manual, and the OCC/IOIA Certification Forms Templates. Our quarterly newsletter The Inspector’s Report is provided free to members and by subscription to non-members.

IOIA is a member of IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements), OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute), Co-op America, and OTA (Organic Trade Association).

IOIA is not an employment service and does not arrange work for inspectors. Rather, it is an association of inspectors which strives to provide support services for inspectors and an opportunity for a collective voice in industry issues. IOIA inspectors serve all certification agencies. Their professionalism contributes to consistency and integrity in the certification process worldwide.

IOIA also serves the Organic Sector by working closely with numerous regional, state, provincial, and international certification agencies, as well as with governmental agencies and IFOAM, to develop policies relating to organic inspection and inspector training. All certifiers are invited to attend IOIA trainings and present their programs.

This site last updated on April 21, 2008