Verification against KRAV standards

KRAV - the label Swedes trust

KRAV was founded in 1985 and today is the best-known food label in Sweden: 98% of Swedish consumers recognise it. The label stands for organic production with higher requirements than the EU minimum with regard to animal welfare, protection of the environment, climate, health and working conditions. For many Swedish retail chains and processors KRAV is a preferred or mandatory label.

KRAV standards for primary production apply to the Scandinavian countries. Products from other countries can be labelled with KRAV when, in addition to the EU Regulation, they also meet KRAV's additional requirements and this has been verified by a control body that has an agreement with KRAV.

Who does what

• KRAV develops the standards and the additional requirements and owns the label.
• The Swedish buyer or importer is KRAV-certified. They register the products and apply the KRAV label.
• Balkan Biocert has a verification agreement with KRAV. We check KRAV's additional requirements for our clients using the current KRAV checklists and submit the results according to the procedure established by KRAV.
• You - the producer, processor or trader - maintain the EU certificate and comply with the additional requirements throughout the year.

Prerequisites

• A valid certificate under Regulation (EU) 2018/848 from Balkan Biocert for the products that will be sold with KRAV.
• A buyer or importer in Sweden (or another Scandinavian country) who is KRAV-certified or will label the product with KRAV.
• Annual verification of the additional requirements.

Main additional requirements

Social responsibility. Bulgaria is in group 2 of the KRAV classification (EU/EEA and other countries with well-developed labour regulation). Operators must systematically identify and reduce the risks of violations of labour and social rights at their suppliers.

GMOs. The permitted level of adventitious presence of GMOs is up to 0.9%. For high-risk crops, the KRAV risk lists apply. They determine when additional certificates or sampling are required.

Composite products. At least 90% of the ingredients must meet KRAV requirements. If a KRAV-certified ingredient is available, an ingredient that is only organic may not be used instead of it.

Additives and processing. KRAV permits fewer additives and processing aids than the EU Regulation. Recipes are therefore checked against the KRAV lists.

Packaging. Bisphenol A (when used intentionally), PVC and other chlorinated plastics are not permitted in primary packaging. There are limited exceptions for cap seals, but with a plan to phase them out.

Valuable natural areas. For some tropical crops (soy, coffee, cocoa, palm oil, sugar cane, coconut), cultivation in areas of high conservation value is prohibited. For most products from Bulgaria this requirement does not apply, but it shows KRAV's approach.

Animals, climate and energy. The requirements on animal welfare, energy efficiency and climate impact are higher than those of the EU. They apply depending on the type of product.

This text is a summary for information purposes. The current KRAV standards and KRAV's guidance on verification of the additional requirements are binding. Sources: krav.se - Extra Requirements for All Products; krav.se - Verify KRAV's Extra Requirements; krav.se - A Label for Organic Food.