Modelling of Certification Systems Report on Economic Modelling Results and Actions to Increase Efficiency and Cost-effectiveness of Inspection

with financial support from the European Community under the 7 th Framework Programme. The publication reflects the views of the author(s) and not those of the European Community, who is not to be held liable for any use that may be made of the information contained. Figure 2: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight sanctions (a) and severe sanctions (b), Swiss control body data .. Figure 3: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight sanctions (a) and severe sanctions (b), Czech control body data .. Figure 4: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight sanctions (a) and severe sanctions (b), German control body data .. Figure 5: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight sanctions (a) and severe sanctions (b), Danish Competent authority data ..... 17 Figure 6: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight sanctions (a) and severe sanctions (b), Italian control body data .. Figure 7: Number of farms by number of sanctions per farm and year; slight (sum of minor and major) non-compliances (a), and severe (critical) non-compliances (b), British control body data .. A more efficient certification system may contribute significantly to increase organic product competitiveness while still maintaining the benefits of trustworthy organic labelling. This goal can be achieved by developing a cost-effective inspection programme that provides assurance of acceptable integrity and reliability, hence shifting the organic certification system more towards a risk based strategy. Risk-based inspections systems use the findings from a formal risk analysis – according to defined criteria – to guide the direction and emphasis of the inspection planning and the physical inspection procedures. A risk-based approach to inspection planning in the organic certification system should consider two aspects: the improvement in the analysis of the probability of non-compliance to be detected, and the economic evaluation of a higher efficiency and effectiveness of the certification system. In operative terms, modelling risk-based organic inspections systems means to relate the probability of detection of non-compliances to a set of risk factors, or variables. Two aspects are therefore involved:  a harmonised dataset of relevant information for organic certification systems,  and a set of appropriate methods to properly assess relevant risk factors.