A CERT European Organization for Certification SA

What A CERT European Organization for Certification SA does

A CERT European Organization for Certification SA is a privately held Greek inspection and certification body founded in 2005 in Thessaloniki, operating as a unified platform of professional certification services rather than a software or product company. The organization provides inspection, evaluation, and certification across six core service lines: Management Systems Certification (ISO 9001, 14001, 27001, 45001, 50001, 22000, 13485, 20000, 22301), Products and Commodities Certification (organic, IFS, SQF, GLOBALG.A.P., CE Marking, Cosmetics GMP), Persons Certification under ISO/IEC 17024:2003, Survey services (sampling, PSI), Verification & Validation under ISO 17029:2019, and Evaluation & Expert Examination (legal, IP, damage assessment). Its underlying technology is regulatory and process-based rather than software-based, consisting of accredited audit methodologies, inspector networks, and laboratory service partnerships.

The business operates on a professional services revenue model, generating fees from initial certifications, annual surveillance audits, and recertification across ISO standards, EU organic regulations (2018/848), DEFRA-equivalent UK organic standards, and food safety schemes. Pricing is quote-based rather than publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales augmented by trade fair participation (BIOFACH, Agrotica, Zootechnia), a multilingual 20+ language website, and a network of eight country offices (Greece, Germany, Bulgaria, Russia, Egypt, Turkey, India, Iran) supporting organic certification services across 51 third countries. The company is founder/owner-operated under President Stefanos Billas with no external investors, no parent company, and no M&A history. Customer segments are horizontal and span agriculture and food (primary), motorsports, investment and funding, international trade, energy, environment, healthcare, tourism, and the public sector.

Name

A CERT European Organization for Certification SA

Legal name

A CERT European Organization for Certification SA

Website

https://a-cert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

A CERT is a Greek privately held inspection and certification body founded in 2005, accredited under EU Regulation 2018/848, DEFRA, and multiple ISO standards, serving organic producers, food businesses, and other enterprises across 51 countries through eight country offices.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Certification and Inspection Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Accredited Certification Bodies (CBs) – ISO 22000/FSSC 22000/BRCGS/SQF (AFALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Food Safety & Quality Scheme Certifications (GFSI Programs) (AFALAMAI), Integrated Management System Certification (Food Safety + Quality/Environment/OHS) (AFALACAI)

Keywords

• ISO certification services
• Organic product certification
• Management systems certification
• Food safety certification
• Inspection and verification

Headquarters

HQ city

Thessaloniki

HQ country

Greece

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Certification Services: A CERT generates revenue through providing certification and inspection services for management systems, products, and persons. This includes annual audits, initial certifications, and recertification fees for compliance with various international standards including ISO standards, EU organic regulations, and other specialized certifications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

A CERT is an independent third-party inspection and certification body offering audit, inspection, certification, evaluation, validation, verification, and compliance assessment services. It provides ISO management systems certification, food safety certification, organic product certification under EU 2018/848, personnel certification, and product certification to organizations across multiple regulated sectors.

Product overview

A CERT European Organization for Certification SA is a unified platform of certification and inspection services, not a software product company. It offers an integrated portfolio of inspection and certification services organized into six core service lines: (1) Inspection & Certification covering Management Systems (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, etc.), Products & Commodities (organic, food safety, GLOBALG.A.P., CE marking), and Persons certification; (2) Survey services including sampling, quality inspection, and PSI; (3) Verification & Validation services (ISO 17029, carbon footprint); (4) Evaluation & Expert Examination (legal, IP, damage assessment); (5) Compliance Assessment for EU and international regulations; and (6) Analytical Laboratory Services. The organization also operates a Motorsports Certification Initiative (2025-2030) targeting the motorsport ecosystem. Services span multiple sectors including agriculture, food industry, energy, environment, healthcare, and international trade.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Product Certification Third-party organic certification of producers, processors, and traders under EU Regulation 2018/848 across 51 countries and DEFRA standards for Great Britain, providing legally valid organic certificates for market access.
• ISO Management Systems Certification Accredited certification against ISO 9001 (quality), ISO 14001 (environmental), ISO 45001 (occupational health & safety), ISO 27001 (information security), and ISO 50001 (energy management) for organizations across multiple sectors.
• Food Safety Certification Certification and audit services against FSSC 22000 / ISO 22000, HACCP, IFS, and SQF food safety schemes for food producers, processors, and retailers needing accredited food safety verification.
• Inspection and Compliance Assessment Independent third-party inspection, evaluation, validation, verification, survey, and compliance assessment services for organizations across regulated sectors.
• Personnel Certification Certification of individual professionals under ISO/IEC 17024, attesting competence in defined occupational roles.
• Validation and Verification Services Independent validation and verification of claims, processes, and statements under ISO/IEC 17029:2019 methodology, supporting organizations needing credible third-party confirmation of sustainability, ESG, or other non-standard claims.

Quantifiable outcome

• Authorized to certify organic products across 51 countries for EU market access
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 October 2024A CERT has been officially recognized by the European Commission under the compliance scheme of Regulation (EU) 2018/848. This prestigious recognition confirms the Organization's competence in carrying out controls and issuing organic certificates across a wide range of product categories in numerous third countries. The partnership enables A CERT to support organic producers and exporters in ensuring their products meet EU organic standards for market entry.
• Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 January 2023A CERT has been recognized by DEFRA as a control body according to the equivalent Great Britain organic standard to certify organic products for imports of organic food and feed to Great Britain. The recognition includes product categories for unprocessed plant products, live animals, aquaculture products, and processed agricultural products for food and feed.
• GALAB LaboratoriessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerGALAB Laboratories provides analytical laboratory services to A CERT for testing allergens, medicines, dioxins, GMOs, microbiology, plant analysis, toxins, and environmental samples. GALAB is accredited according to ISO 17025 and performs services according to GLP/ICH guidelines.
• GISTAZERTsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerA CERT provides IFS (International Featured Standards) certification in cooperation with the German Certification Body GISTAZERT, enabling comprehensive food safety and quality certification services for clients.
• European Institute for Sustainable Development (EISD)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hellenic Zootechnical Society and the European Institute for Sustainable Development (EISD) co-organize industry events including the 23rd Livestock Symposium, demonstrating collaboration in promoting sustainable agricultural practices.
• Hellenic Zootechnical SocietysupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with the Hellenic Zootechnical Society for organizing industry events and promoting sustainable livestock development in Greece.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMO Control (Institute for Marketecology): Swiss-based organic and sustainability certification body active in developing-country organic exports. Comparable niche positioning to A CERT for third-country organic producers seeking EU/equivalent market access.
• GISTAZERT: German certification body partnered with A CERT for IFS certification. Direct peer in the European food-safety certification space with comparable service portfolio and mid-sized profile.
• Control Union Certifications: Dutch-headquartered certification body specializing in organic, sustainable, and agricultural commodity certifications across emerging markets. Closest direct competitor to A CERT in the third-country organic certification niche.
• ECOCERT SA: French organic and sustainable certification body operating globally with focus on organic agriculture, textiles, and cosmetics. Direct competitor in the organic and natural products certification space where A CERT also operates.

Broad incumbents

• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) giant operating across all the ISO, food safety, and organic categories A CERT serves. Bureau Veritas competes for the same multi-national exporter clients but at much larger scale.
• DNV (Det Norske Veritas): Norwegian certification body covering ISO management systems, food safety, and supply chain certification. Targets the same exporter customer base as A CERT across Europe and emerging markets.
• TÜV Rheinland: Global TIC company with ISO management system accreditation, product certification, and CE marking. Direct overlap with A CERT's management systems and CE Marking services.
• SGS SA: Swiss-headquartered TIC leader offering ISO management systems, food safety (FSSC 22000, SQF), and agricultural commodity certification across global markets. Overlaps with A CERT across nearly every service line.
• Kiwa Group: Dutch TIC group providing ISO certification, product certification (including organic), and inspection services across Europe and beyond. Overlaps with A CERT in ISO and food/organic categories.
• TÜV SÜD: German certification body providing ISO 9001/14001/27001/45001 audits and food/organic certification. Competes with A CERT for European-manufacturer clients and ISO systems work.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acert-certification

Compliance23 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about A CERT European Organization for Certification SA