About the Organic Trust

The Organic Trust was founded in Ireland in 1991 by a core group of dedicated organic producers including some of the pioneers of organic production in Ireland.  The Trust was established as a voluntary non-profit making organisation to provide a credible system of organic inspection & certification on which the consumer can depend.  The overall aim or mission of the organisation is to maintain the integrity of food labelled as ‘organic’ and to assure the consumer that organic food carrying the Organic Trust logo was produced in compliance with strict organic standards. High standards of organic production and an inspection system built on a very detailed knowledge of organic production are the pillars of the Organic Trust.

The Organic Trust is approved by the Department of Agriculture & Food in Ireland (who have assigned the code IRL-OIB3-EU to the Organic Trust); by DEFRA in the UK to facilitate our organic inspection and certification services in the UK (DEFRA have assigned the code UK9 for such activities) and by the European Commission.

The Organic Trust is an EN45011 compliant organisation and application for accreditation to EN45011 has been made to the Irish National Accreditation Board.

What we do

The Organic Trust provides:

* An organic inspection and certification service for the most comprehensive range of organic enterprises and products in Ireland.
* A user-friendly standards manual which keeps abreast of legislative amendments as they arise
* A comprehensive service to all categories of applicant
* Extremely valuable technical expertise to processors
* A bi-monthly journal for the professional organic producer titled ‘Clover Magazine’

The Organic Trust offers a professional, user-friendly Organic Inspection and Certification Service for a vast range of organic enterprises.  The scope of our certification covers the most prolific range of organic enterprises in Ireland at the present time.  Currently this includes all organic livestock enterprises from organic beef, lamb and poultry units to the more specialised enterprises of organic dairy, pig, goat and deer production.  We also certify all aspects of horticultural production from the small less-than-an-acre systems to the more commercial field-scale horticultural units for vegetables, fruit, herbs, flowers, seeds and so forth – in addition, we inspect and certify all aspects of organic grain and cereals production. 

The Organic Trust are the most experienced certifiers of the full range of organic processed products which includes organic - bakery; chocolate; coffee & tea; essential oils; dairy and cheese; herbal; cereal; muesli; honey; humus, pates, tapenades; aquaculture; liqueur; preserves; soups; sauces; pasta dishes; cordials; dairy crumb and desserts; organic snack products – popcorn and maize based; organic juices; tofu; salmon; maca; oats; stocks; oils; ice-cream; vinegar; confectionery …….. and so forth – for an all-inclusive listing of products certified by the Organic Trust, simply telephone our office and the information will be forwarded to you.

Recent legislative changes now require facilities which store and subsequently distribute organic products to be in possession of an organic licence – the Organic Trust can provide such a service.  We also certify the majority of organically certified retailers (including butchers), importers and distributors.

The only dedicated organic meat processing unit in Ireland – Good Herdsmen Ltd – is certified by the Organic Trust Ltd.  The Organic Trust also certify a significant number of other abattoir and meat processing units.

Ireland’s only dedicated organically certified restaurant – the Strawberry Tree Restaurant at the BrookLodge Hotel – is certified by the Organic Trust Ltd.

The Organic Trust symbol provides our members with a very valuable marketing tool – our unique recognisable logo verifies the organic integrity of the products on which it appears.

The organic sector in Ireland is in a continuous state of development.  The Organic Trust are proud to certify a huge range of the organic products on the retail shelves in Ireland (with the bulk of Irish-produced organic food being marketed under the Organic Trust logo) and we feel it is timely to talk about our extensive work “behind the scenes”. 

The Organic Trust has concentrated on providing a trustworthy and professional inspection & certification service to Irish organic producers.  Comprehensive Standards for organic production have been developed over the years culminating in The Standards for Organic Food & Farming in Ireland. Courses in Organic Production, such as those at the Organic Centre in Leitrim were originally nurtured and developed by the Organic Trust Ltd.  Countless meetings with State and Semi-State Bodies are attended to assist in developing the wider aspects of the Irish organic sector.

The Standards for Organic Food & Farming in Ireland

Standards for organic production regulate a very sophisticated and elaborate system of food production – all designed to produce food naturally and to ensure that potentially hazardous synthetic chemicals are kept out of the food chain.  The supply of high quality food and the preservation of taste and nutritional value are additional concerns, as are the protection of our environment and the maintenance of high standards of animal welfare. It is clear that such a comprehensive undertaking requires comprehensive rules and regulations … and of course a knowledgeable and committed organisation to ensure that these rules are adhered to - this is exactly what the Organic Trust has been doing since 1992.

The people behind the Organic Trust logo

The Organic Trust are fortunate to have the services of highly qualified and experienced Inspectors who are competitively paid - individuals with formal qualifications in agriculture, horticulture, food science technology, together with extensive organic production & processing experience.

The Certification Panel is comprised of individuals with a broad range of educational backgrounds and experience (from commercial organic growers to Food Science Technologists) who provide their skills and extensive expertise for this very important task – much of their work is provided on a voluntary basis. Certification Meetings are monitored by the Department of Agriculture & Food, by DEFRA and the Organic Trust always invite an unbiased consumer representative to our certification meetings. 

The Certification Panel review every single inspection report produced by our Inspectors on an anonymous basis to maintain a totally unbiased approach.  Our office uses the most up to date technology to keep on top of all administrative requirements and to provide the necessary back-up and support to all of our producer members. 

Why do busy people provide their services on a voluntary basis?  Because of an inherent belief in the ethos of organic production; because of a care and concern for our environment; because of a deep conviction that managing our land organically will ensure that we will have a legacy of fruitful land to leave our children.

In a sector which is regulated and legislatively controlled to a far greater extent than any other sector of the economy, there are many individuals who feel a strong sense of responsibility for the sector today and for its future development to the extent that they wish to ensure that the original aims of the founders of the Organic Trust are not diluted or compromised.  The Organic Trust is not an anonymous and faceless body – it is comprised of individuals who feel strongly about the organic sector in Ireland and its future potential.

The Organic Trust logo on a product is not a cosmetic additive – it is a stamp of authenticity – a sign of approval from the Organic Trust that this product complied with the strict organic criteria laid down. 

The Organic Trust are proud to be a centre of excellence in the inspection and certification of organic produce in Ireland on a 32 county basis.  Members of the Organic Trust include household names such as Anu Organics; Ariosa Coffee; Atlantic Aromatics; The Baking Emporium; Ballybrado; Barry’s Tea; Blacklion Produce; Blakes Organic Chocolate; Ballymaloe; The Brooklodge Hotel & Strawberry Tree Restaurant; Bunalun; Butlers Chocolate; Castlehill Catering; Cisti Gugan Barra Teo; Clarkes Salmon Smokery; Clover Pastures; Dawn Meats; Donegal Creameries T/A Donra Dairies; Donnelly Fruit & Veg; Dublin Meath Growers; Leo Dunne Ltd; Dunn’s Seafare Ltd; First Ireland Spirits; Flahavans; Follain Teo; Fyffes Bananas; Garryvoe Soups, Sauces & Pastas; Good Herdsmen; Glenpatrick Spring Water Company; Global Fruit; Healy’s Organic Honey; Heavenly Foods; Heron Fine Foods - Biscuits and Bakery Products; Hilton Foods; Irish Organic Herbs; Java Republic Coffee Roasting Co; JD Organics Cork; Keelings Fruit; Kerry Ingredients; Kosy Shack Europe; Largo Food Exports; Lir Chocolates; The Little Irish Apple Company; McCambridges Bread; Musgraves; National Organic Products; Nature’s Best; Nolans Supermarket Clontarf; The Organic Bread Co; The Organic Herb Company; Oasis Fresh Produce; Odaios Foods; Robt Roberts; Sara’s Choice; Shamrock/Roma Foods; Simply Organic; Simply Soups; Simply Wild; Solaris Herbs; N Smyth & Company; Sowans Organic Bread Mixes; Spice O’Life; Strawberry Tree Restaurant at the BrookLodge; Sunshine Juices; Tesco Ireland; Thai Food Company; Tipperary Organic Icecream; Total Produce; Con Traas; Tropical Oils; Ummera Smoked Salmon; Wildes Irish Handmade Chocolates - to name a few …. and, of course, not to forget the hundreds of organic farmers and growers who sell their produce direct to the consumer through box schemes, farm-gate sales, farmers markets or directly from their holdings.  Retailers certified by the Organic Trust include All Things Organic & Natural; Beshoffs The Market; Country Choice Café and Deli Nenagh; Fallon & Byrne; The Farm Shop Moville; Anthony & Padraig Farrelly Butchers; The Happy Pear Greystones; Nolans Supermarket Clontarf; Organico Bantry and Scally’s SuperValu Clonakilty.

Quite simply, the Organic Trust upholds the integrity of organic food.

If you would like your products to be certified by a professional organisation – an organisation with integrity and prestige, join the Organic Trust – we assure you of our 100% commitment to your organic endeavours.

Key Contacts:

Helen Scully, National Co-ordinator & Certification Manager - 01 8530271 or
Michelle Cleary, Administrator - 01 8530271

Featured Member

Denis Healy is one of the longest established organic growers in Ireland.  Denis has had a significant involvement in the development of the Irish organic sector through participation as a former member of the Board of Management of the Organic Trust.  Denis has an enviable reputation in the area of organic growing - a passion which continues unabated.

read more..

browse all members