Bio Suisse (Bud)

In short

Bio Suisse is the Swiss association of organic farmers and owns the Bud label. To carry it, a product needs a basic organic certification (EU or equivalent) plus the Bio Suisse standards, so EU organic alone does not give the Bud.

The whole chain is certified, including processors, traders, warehouses and exporters. Inspections are done by control bodies working with ICB AG in Switzerland, and the process is normally started and paid for by the Swiss importer, who needs a Bio Suisse licence and product-by-product approval. Bio Suisse only allows imports of products that Switzerland does not produce in sufficient quantity, and for products from outside Europe it adds sustainability requirements.

What it covers

• Farm or collection area, storage, processing and export, all certified
• Stricter organic, social and sustainability rules than the basic organic regulation
• Lot tracking inside the Bio Suisse import system

What it does not cover

• It does not replace a food-safety scheme
• A producer cannot normally apply alone: the Swiss importer and Bio Suisse approve the product first

Who asks for it

Swiss importers, brands and retailers selling the Bud.

How to check a certificate

Ask for the Bio Suisse certificate and the importer’s licence, and confirm with Bio Suisse or ICB.

How a company gets it

1. Talk to the Swiss importer first: they start the approval
2. Hold or obtain organic certification (EU or equivalent) for the whole chain
3. Have the farm, warehouses and processors inspected by a control body working with ICB AG
4. Ship under the importer’s Bio Suisse licence and lot approval

Questions