What is EquiTool?

EquiTool is a tool for determining equivalence between organic standards for organic production and processing.¹ It contains elements and procedures, including an option for assessing an organic standard based on international standards and an option for assessing a set of (two or more) individual organic standards. The process is both narrated and illustrated in a flow chart. The guide includes criteria, drawn from the IFOAM system, that can be used to assess whether specific differences within organic standards can be rationalized in the context of equivalence. A practical template for tracking and managing the equivalence assessment process is included.

What is the main purpose of EquiTool?

The purpose of EquiTool is to serve as a guide for governments and holders of organic standards in the private sector to use when negotiating equivalence of their standard with the holder of another standard. Use of EquiTool can promote consistency, transparency, and equitability in equivalency processes for organic standards.

How would a government use EquiTool?

Governments wishing to enter into an equivalence assessment process would follow the process and criteria in the guide. Governments may choose to adhere to all steps and criteria, or they could select steps and criteria appropriate to their situation.

Why would a government use EquiTool?

Equitool provides a blueprint so that governments can avoid developing equivalency processes and criteria themselves on a case-by-case basis. A Government that is new to the equivalence process for organic standards can consider adopting EquiTool as its own procedural document. Governments that are experienced in equivalency negotiation may refer to EquiTool for ways to expand and improve their processes.

Use of a common set of procedures and criteria will promote consistency in government equivalency negotiations. Because EquiTool was carefully developed within the frameworks of WTO principles and guidelines, and Codex Alimentarius Commission guidelines for the development of equivalence agreements, governments using this tool will meet their objectives to work within these international frameworks.

How would EquiTool be used in the private sector?

Some private sector organizations hold proprietary organic standards and operate organic labeling programs based on these standards. These private labeling systems must deal with clients, manufacturers and other traders, who want to source organic ingredients and products certified to standards other than their own. If a program wants to allow sourcing of such ingredients by its clients, it must have a process in place for assessing either compliance or equivalence of these other standards with its own. EquiTool can be a useful guideline for assessing either compliance or equivalence of standards; however it will be most valuable when a private label program is open to accepting equivalent standards.

Are there any other benefits of EquiTool?

Although developed with reference to the organic sector, the procedures in EquiTool are fairly generic; and the criteria for variations in standards may also be adapted to other kinds of process and service oriented standards, especially those in agriculture. Therefore, EquiTool can serve as a model for equivalence procedures and criteria across a spectrum of standards worldwide. EquiTool should be of general interest to government and intergovernmental organizations and private sector standards organizations worldwide that are interested in the issue of equivalence.

What assurances are given that EquiTool is a credible approach for assessing equivalence?

The ITF developed EquiTool in a consultation process that included ITF members, organic certification bodies, standards setting organizations and other stakeholders. Three drafts of EquiTool were consulted prior to the final version, which is approved by the ITF.

EquiTool was developed within the framework of WTO principles and guidelines and is consistent with applicable provisions of Codex Alimentarius Commission guidelines for the development of equivalence agreements. EquiTool summarizes the applicable intergovernmental principles and guidelines in an appendix.

How are copies of EquiTool obtained and questions about EquiTool answered?

IFOAM, which has served as the Secretariat for the ITF, is providing ongoing services related to EquiTool. To obtain either electronic or printed versions of EquiTool, go either to the ITF website or to the bookstore on the IFOAM website, www.ifoam.org. Other services related to EquiTool, including questions and comments, will also be handled by IFOAM.

¹ Standards incorporated in government regulations are called “technical regulations.” EquiTool could also be used as a blueprint in international equivalence processes such as IFOAM’s program for recognition of other standards.