The International Organic Accreditation Service [IOAS] is a non-profit independent organisation registered in Delaware, USA which offers international oversight of organic certification, through a voluntary accreditation process for certification bodies active in the field of organic agriculture.



The IOAS implements the IFOAM Accreditation Programme which is an industry based global guarantee of organic integrity, unburdened by national barriers and implemented by one body which has no other interests.



Under this programme applicant certification bodies are assessed against the IFOAM Norms - the Criteria for Certification Bodies and the IFOAM Basic Standards. The assessment includes both a review of the certification body’s documentation and an on-site visit to evaluate the quality of the certification body’s performance. Once a certification body is compliant with these requirements, it is awarded IFOAM accreditation by the IOAS. Continued compliance is assured through an annual surveillance system that includes yearly visits to the office of the certification body and, where appropriate, visits to foreign offices and operators.



In addition to IFOAM accreditation, the IOAS also offers accreditation against ISO/IEC Guide 65 General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems and compiles reports addressing a certification body’s conformity with organic regulations such as EU Regulation 2092/91. 



The IOAS is comprised of a Board of Directors and an Accreditation Committee drawn from different sectors of the organic community around the world. The day-to-day work is carried out by 5 professional and one support staff located in offices in the USA, Europe and Australia. 



The IOAS is self-financed, 80% of which comes from the accreditation process. The remainder is income from undertaking technical projects, all related to organic standards and development of better regulatory systems in this field.