Organic associations united for organic mineral water quality association

AöL is the sixth German organic association to join the Quality Association, after Bioland, Naturland, Demeter, the Biokreis and the Bundesverband Naturkost Naturwaren (BNN). This means that the most important German organic associations are united behind the Quality Association and its organic mineral water seal. The AöL, which has about 120 members, is the association of organic food producers in German-speaking Europe. It advocates an ecologically and socially oriented market economy as well as more sustainable food production that keeps the entire production process in mind. Dr. Alexander Beck, Executive Director of the AöL: "We support the Quality Association as a sponsoring member because with its organic mineral water seal it transfers the organic principles that guide us all one-to-one to our most important foodstuff, water. Only if, like the Quality Association, you take a transparent and sustainable look at the entire process of how a foodstuff is created, from the soil to the end product, can you protect it from the very beginning and also preserve it in the best organic quality for future generations. And that is exactly the core idea of the organic movement."

In addition, the Organic Mineral Water Quality Association was also accepted as an organisational member of IFOAM - Organics International as well as IFOAM Organics Europe. The network of around 800 members is the international association of organic farming movements and the umbrella organisation of the global organic movement. The standards for organic farming and organic certification developed by IFOAM - Organics International still point the way for the European organic regulation today: only what demonstrably meets the highest standards of quality and environmental protection from its origin through breeding, cultivation and husbandry, processing methods and ingredients to the end product can be organic. Louise Luttikholt, Executive Director IFOAM - Organics International: "Water is a highly endangered resource today. It is therefore all the more important that we, as an ecological movement, take a more direct look at and protect water as a foodstuff throughout its entire production process. With its organic mineral water seal, the Quality Association has taken a pioneering step forward for all of us. We look forward to learning from our new member and to joining forces to bring the issue to international bodies as well."

Dr Franz Ehrnsperger, Chairman of the Organic Mineral Water Quality Association: "The broad support of the organic associations shows that we are on the right track with our organic mineral water seal and our commitment to pure water. We are very much looking forward to continuing to fight for our most important foodstuff with these strong partners."