Public Institution “Ekoagros” is a non-profit, limited liability public institution, operating in the scope of certification and control of organic production, as well as products produced in compliance with national agricultural and food product quality system (NKP).

• PI “Ekoagros” was given the functions of the certification body by the order of Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania of December 28, 2000 No. 375 (Amendment of the order of Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania of April 6, 2010 No. 3D-323) in compliance with the approved rules on the organic farming, granting the certification body code LT-EKO-001.
• With the order of Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania of August 27, 2008 No. 3D-475 (Amendment of the order of Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania of October 13, 2015 No. 3D-768), PI “Ekoagros“ was empowered to certify products produced in compliance with national agricultural and food product quality system (NKP), as set out in the Rules on acceptance of products produced in compliance with national agricultural and food product quality system, granting the code LT-NKP-001.
• With the European Commission Implementing Regulation No. 2016/2259 of 15 December 2016 amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries, Public Institution “Ekoagros” was included into the list of control bodies and control institutions, provided for equivalency in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No.1235/2008 to carry out certification services in the third countries.
• April 19th 2023: Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania No. 285 appointed “Ekoagros“ to perform official controls in organic production and labelling of organic products as per Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council Article 1 Section 2(e).

   

In the year of 1996, professor Vida Marija Rutkoviene has started an initiative to create a new independent certification institution aimed at certifying organic products. A year later, on the 14th of March 1997, in Kaunas the first in Lithuania and the Baltic States certification body of organic products “Ekoagros” was established by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania.

Establishment of the specialized certification body “Ekoagros” was necessary, aiming to assess the organic products being produced and to provide confidence for all stakeholders, ensuring compliance of products and the farming method with the determined requirements.  

Vida Marija Rutkoviene was appointed to head the newly established body.

Further development of the institution:  

• In 1999, Ineta Rutkovaite was appointed Director of PI “Ekoagros”.  
• In 2000, the institution was accredited by IFOAM accreditation services to implement certification of organic production.
• Since 2005, PI “Ekoagros” was managed by Ona Kazliene.
• In 2005, the institution was accredited by Lithuanian National Accreditation Bureau for compliance with Standard LST EN 45011:2000.
• As a result of increasing number of farmers and expanding scope of work accordingly, branches in Telsiai and Utena districts were established.  
• In 2007, the branches of the Institution were accredited by Lithuanian National Accreditation Bureau for compliance with Standard LST EN 45011:2000, expanding the scope of accreditation to certify handling of food products.
• In 2008, the institution started accreditation of distinctive quality products.  
• In 2010, the institution was repeatedly accredited for compliance with Standard LST EN 45011:2000 for another period of 5 years to certify agricultural products of distinctive quality.  
• Since 2012, Gintaras Nagulevicius was appointed Director of PI “Ekoagros”.

Significant facts in 2014:

• Since 2014, the institution is managed by Antanas Makarevicius.
• The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania withdrew from the sharers, whereas the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania was entitled to execute State property, rights and duties as an ownerof Public Institution “Ekoagros”.   
• The institution joined international alliance of certification bodies Quavera, uniting the leading certification and control institutions.
• A cooperation agreement is signed with ABCERT AG in regards of inspections according to the German private standard Bioland requirements.

Significant facts in 2015:

• The body was repeatedly accredited for compliance with Standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 for another period of 5 years.
• The body joined IFOAM EU group, becoming a member. IFOAM EU unites over 180 member organizations, acting over the whole chain of organic food, as well as outside it – including farmers and processors, retailers, certification bodies, consultants, traders and scientists, as well as environmental and consumer protection institutions.  

Contracts entered into:

• Contract with international certification body “DEMETER-INTERNATIONAL” on the right to carry out inspections in compliance with the “Demeter” standard.  
• Cooperation agreement with “International certification Bio Suisse AG”regarding the rightto carry out inspections in compliance with “Bio Suisse” Standard.
• Contract with “Naturland.e.V.” regarding inspection of operators in compliance with the “Naturland” standard.
• Contract with “KRAV ekonomisk förening” regarding inspection of compliance with additional requirements listed in Chapter 16 of “KRAV” Standard for certified production.
• Contract with Italian certification institution “CCPB ltd”, regarding inspection in compliance with the private standards “Natrue” for natural and organic cosmetics, CCPB natural and organic cosmetcs, “GOTS” (Global Organic Textile Standard) and “TE” (Textile Exchange).

Significant facts in 2016:

• The institution entered into agreement with German certification “Kiwa BSC OKO-Garantie GmBH” and Armenian certification body RAB “Ecoglobe”, enabling `1qaz of inspections of organic production in the third countries on the basis of subcontracting.  

Significant facts in 2017:

• The institution was accredited to certify organic production in compliance with National Organic Program (NOP) of US Department of Agriculture. Accreditation was granted according to the Organic Food Production Act of 1990, as well as USDA Organic regulation (7 CFR Part 205).
• Public Institution “Ekoagros” was included into the list of control bodies and control institutions, provided for equivalency in Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No.1235/2008 with respect to provision of certification services in the third countries (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Tadzhikistan and Kazakhstan).
• The institution entered into cooperation contract with China Organic Food Certification Center regarding certification of organic production in compliance with National Standard for Organic Products of the People’s Republic of China.  
• The institution entered into agreement with the German certification institution GfRS regarding inspections according to the private German standard VLOG “Ohne Gentechnik” (without GMO) requirements.

Significant facts in 2018:

• Starting from 2 May 2018, the institution is managed by dr. Gintautas Labanauskas.
• The institution became a member of the European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC). The decision was made in 2017, and the final EOCC General assembly vote took place in 2018.
• The institution became a member of The Accredited Certifiers Association –  ACA.

• Starting from 2 July 2019, the institution is managed by Virginija Luksienė.
• Contract with “BIO AUSTRIA Marketing GmbH” regarding inspection in compliance with the “Bio Austria” standard.

Significant facts in 2020

• The institution was repeatedly accredited for compliance with Standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 for another period of 5 years.

Significant facts in 2021

• “Ekoagros” was registered in National Accreditation Agency of Ukraine (NAAU), resulting in that all Lithuanian production certified by “Ekoagros” is recognized as organic in Ukrainian market.
• “Ekoagros” prepared a project for new organic catering regulations to the Ministry of Agriculture. The new guidelines for organic catering have come to the effect on May 1^st.
• During Covid-19 pandemic, EFSA remotely examined the process of organic production and its labelling regulations system in Lithuania. The audit results were positive.

Significant facts in 2022

• According to the new ES organic production regulation, “Ekoagros” is recognized as an organic product control institution.
• The new EU organic production regulation does not stipulate the obligation for the organic product control authority to be accredited according to the standard. “Ekoagros”, as an organization, continues to be accredited according to the requirements of the standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012, only in the narrower field required by the relevant legislation.
• In February, “Ekoagros” stopped organic production certification in Russia and Belarus due to the declared state of emergency in Lithuania on account of Russia’s military aggression in Ukraine.
• In April, “Ekoagros” signed a contract with The German Farmers Association, responsible for providing “Naturland” standard, to officially represent it in Lithuania and Baltic States.
• “Ekoagros” signed a cooperation agreement with Taiwan’s organic certification organization “Eco-Garden” in May.
• A digital survey was created for “Ekoagros”
• To commemorate “Ekoagros” 25^th anniversary – a new logo was created.
• ŽŪMPSIS, an innovative IS system by Ministry of Agriculture for primary production, started working.

Significant facts in 2023

• The Government of the Republic of Lithuania in 19^th of April, 2023 by resolution No. 285 appointed the control authority – public institution “Ekoagros” - to carry out official control in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and Council in the area of organic production, indicated in Regulation’s Article 1 (2) (i).
• The institution's main office settled at a new address: Laisves av. 67, Kaunas.
• Accreditation to certify organic production in accordance with the requirements of the United States Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA NOP) has been extended.
• An agreement has been reached between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Data Center and “Ekoagros” on the further development of the information system for the certification of organic production.
• An internal management system for information about the institution's clients was implemented, appointed to optimize work, speed up processes and manage resources more efficiently.
• The National Accreditation Bureau has expanded the scope of “Ekoagros” accreditation to carry out certification of poultry and laying hens and quail eggs produced in accordance with the National Food Quality System.

Significant facts in 2024

• Since the beginning of the year, the institution has started to carry out functions that it did not have before – they are related to promotion of export, organizing exhibitions and public interventions. These tasks were assigned to be carried out by the Government after decision to reorganize the Rural Business and Market Development Agency into a new budgetary institution – Agency of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture. The indicated functions are being carried out by a new department of “Ekoagros” - branch "Litfood", working in Vilnius.

Management of Public Institution “Ekoagros” ensures that:

• Quality policy and management system complies with the intents of public institution “Ekoagros”, specified in the vision, mission and values;  
• Quality management system of the institution complies with the requirements specified in Standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012; it is under constant improvement, seeking to ensure a desirable result;
• Quality policy is under constant review, update and assessment, aiming to ensure its correctness, considering the determined quality goals;
• Quality policy is well-known and comprehensible in public institution “Ekoagros”.

General Manager of public institution “Ekoagros”:

• Shapes the policy of PI “Ekoagros” in the scope of certification.

Vision:

• To become the most professional certification body of agricultural products and services, acknowledged by clients and consumers.  

Mission:

• To provide certification services of organic agricultural products and NPK to the applicants, aiming to ensure that agricultural products entering the market  comply with applicable requirements; 
• To comply with the requirements of international Standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065 and to improve the quality management system of the institution, aiming to ensure control of the certification services and to improve its results;
• To expand the scope of accreditation and the extent of services;
• To apply the principles of equivalence, fairness and objectivity to all clients.

Values:

• Loyalty – the goals of employees correspond with the goals of PI “Ekoagros”; employees are proud with their work and are actively striving for common goals;
• Professional competencies – appreciation of competence, knowledge, sharing of best practices among colleagues;
• Communication – belief in their work, and trust in colleagues, exchanging information;
• Responsibility – striving to do their best in their work, taking responsibility for own actions, decisions and outcome;
• Creativity – active generation of ideas, bold suggestions.  

Public institution Ekoagros anti-corruption policy.

Since 2005, PI “Ekoagros” is accredited by National Accreditation Bureau. The institution complies with the requirements of Standard LST EN ISO/IEC 17065:2012 and is accredited for Certification of primary production and handling processes of products produced in accordance with national agriculture and food quality system and certification of products which comply with the requirements and products which are being provided equivalent guarantees in third countries. Accreditation certificate No. LA 03.007, issued by the National Accreditation Bureau on 2023-April-18. Accreditation is valid until 2025-09-02.

http://db.nab.lt/ais/accreditation

On January 23, 2017, the institution was accredited to certify organic production in compliance with the requirements of National Organic Program (NOP) of US Department of Agriculture.  The scope of certified operations is crop production, animal husbandry, processing and wild plants. After five years, the institution successfully passed re-accreditation procedures and in 2023. March 27 a new accreditation certificate No.USDA-81-23 was issued. Accreditation is valid until 2027. January 23.