ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH

What ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH does

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH is a privately held German state-approved organic certification body headquartered in Straubing, Bavaria, operating continuously for over 30 years (since approximately 1994). The company inspects and certifies organic businesses across all 16 German federal states under EU regulation VO (EU) 2018/848 and the private-law standards of organic farming associations (Bio-Anbauverbände). Its service scope covers seven vertical areas: agricultural production, beekeeping, processing, trade, import, feed production, and out-of-home catering. Annual oversight is provided by DAkkS (Deutsche Akkreditierungsstelle GmbH) and BLE (Bundesanstalt für Landwirtschaft und Ernährung), the bodies that grant and renew the company's state authorization.

The company's core operational technology is a nationwide field-inspection platform: mobile control teams travel to customer sites to conduct scheduled annual inspections and unannounced spot checks, issuing EU control numbers and registering certified operators with state authorities. In 2025, ÖkoP launched the ÖkoP-Kundenportal (customer portal), a digital platform providing certified businesses access to master data, inspection reports, certificates, invoices, and self-declaration workflows for inspection preparation. The portal integrates with the EU Traces database for third-party certificate verification, and the company maintains connections to industry databases including organicXseeds, organicXlivestock, and FiBL Betriebsmittelliste.

ÖkoP generates revenue through recurring annual certification and inspection fees, with fee schedules varying by business type and certification scope. Additional revenue comes from processing fees for add-on services such as label review (Etikettenprüfung) and conformity certificates for products outside EU organic regulation scope (e.g., cosmetics). Go-to-market is direct and field-based: prospective customers initiate contact, ÖkoP issues EU control numbers and registers them with state authorities, and ongoing annual inspections plus spot checks create recurring revenue touchpoints. The company is led by Managing Director Christian Fink, with Achim Weiske as Deputy Control Body Director and Michaela Baumeister as Quality Management Representative.

Name

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH

Legal name

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH

Website

https://oekop.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH is a German state-approved organic certification body, operating nationwide for 30+ years, inspecting and certifying organic farms, processors, traders, importers, and food-service operators across all 16 German federal states under EU regulation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Certification and Inspection Services

NAICS

Regulation, Licensing, and Inspection of Miscellaneous Commercial Sectors (92615), Regulation of Agricultural Marketing and Commodities (92614)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Certification Services (AFALAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Consulting & Compliance Program Management (FDA/USDA/EFSA) (AFALADAC), Regulatory Compliance, Permitting & Audit Readiness (Food Safety, Environmental, Labor) (AFACAJAE)

Keywords

• Organic certification services
• Agricultural inspection services
• EU organic regulation
• Organic compliance auditing
• Food safety certification

Headquarters

HQ city

Straubing

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Organic Certification Services: Annual certification and inspection fees for organic businesses. Services cover initial certification, annual follow-up inspections, and unannounced spot checks. Fee structures vary by business type (agricultural production, processing, trade, import, feed production). Processing fees apply for special services such as labeling review and input material verification.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH is a state-approved German control body (Kontrollstelle) that inspects and certifies organic businesses under the EU Organic Regulation (VO (EU) 2018/848) and private organic farming association standards. Services cover agricultural production, beekeeping, processing, trade, import, feed manufacturing, and out-of-home catering throughout Germany. Customers receive EU control numbers, annual on-site inspections, unannounced spot checks, certificates, and access to a digital customer portal for document management and inspection preparation.

Product overview

ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH offers a unified certification and inspection service for organic businesses in Germany. The core offering consists of inspection and certification according to EU organic regulation (EU-Bio-Verordnung) and private organic farming association standards, covering agricultural production, beekeeping, processing, trade, import, and feed production. The customer portal (ÖkoP-Kundenportal) serves as the central digital platform where customers access their documents, complete self-declarations, and manage their certification lifecycle. Additional services include conformity certificates for non-food organic products and label review services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• EU Organic Certification (EU-Bio-Verordnung) Annual certification service for organic businesses under EU Organic Regulation VO (EU) 2018/848, issuing EU control numbers and annual certificates to producers, processors, traders, importers, beekeepers, and feed manufacturers.
• Inspection and Certification of Organic Agricultural Operations On-site annual and unannounced inspection of organic farms producing crops, livestock, vegetables, fruits, honey, and wild-collected plants, with certification issuance across all German federal states.
• Inspection and Certification of Organic Processing and Trade Operations Inspection and certification of organic food preparation, meat processing, bakery products, spreads, wholesale, intermediate trade, and online trade operations throughout Germany.
• Inspection and Certification of Organic Import Operations Certification of organic importers bringing products from third countries, including customs documentation, Certificate of Inspection (COI) handling, and Hamburg customs procedures.
• Inspection and Certification of Organic Beekeeping Operations Certification of apiary operations producing organic honey, covering beekeeping-specific compliance requirements under EU organic regulation.
• Inspection and Certification of Organic Feed Production Certification of feed production for organic livestock, including verification of organic feed ingredient compliance.
• Inspection and Certification of Out-of-Home Organic Catering Operations Certification of food service operations serving organic meals, including menu labeling, ingredient sourcing documentation, and kitchen separation compliance verification.
• Private-Law Organic Farming Association Certification Certification according to private-law standards of organic farming associations (Bio-Anbauverbände) in addition to EU regulations, allowing businesses to market products under specific association labels.
• ÖkoP Customer Portal (Kundenportal) Digital self-service platform for certified organic businesses to access inspection reports, certificates, invoices, complete self-declarations, view field lists, and manage compliance documentation online.
• Conformity Certificate for Non-Food Organic Products Issuance of certificate of conformity (Konformitätsbescheinigung) for products not covered by EU organic regulation, such as cosmetics, applied under EU organic regulation guidelines.
• Label Review Service (Etikettenprüfung) Review of product label designs for compliance with EU organic regulation prior to printing, provided as a processing-fee service for certified organic businesses.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ years of certification experience in German organic sector
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature2 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• IMO Control (IMO Group): Switzerland-headquartered certifier with German operations, covering organic farming, processing, and fair-trade certification. Competes with ÖkoP for German organic operators seeking EU and international market access.
• Ecocert Germany: German arm of the French-headquartered Ecocert group, providing organic and sustainability certification for food, cosmetics, and textiles. Overlaps with ÖkoP in food/feed processing and trader certification.
• ABCert AG: German organic certification body inspecting producers, processors, and traders under EU regulation and German private standards. Direct peer to ÖkoP in the domestic German organic control market.
• LACON GmbH: German organic certification body based in Offenburg, accredited for EU and private association standards. Directly competes with ÖkoP across agricultural production, processing, and trader certification in Germany.
• Kiwa BCS Öko-Garantie (formerly BCS Öko-Garantie GmbH): Largest German organic certification body, now part of the Kiwa group. Directly competes with ÖkoP across EU regulation 2018/848 and private association certification, serving producers, processors, and traders in Germany and internationally.
• Control Union Certifications Germany: German branch of global Control Union, providing organic, sustainability, and supply-chain certification. Competes with ÖkoP for German importers, traders, and processors requiring multi-country scheme coverage.
• CERES GmbH (Certification of Environmental Standards): Germany-based certifier specializing in organic production, processing, and input approval under EU and private standards. Directly competes with ÖkoP in the German organic operator market.

Broad incumbents

• TÜV Rheinland: Large German testing-inspection-certification incumbent with broad portfolio including organic and food-safety certification. Less specialized in organic niche than ÖkoP but offers overlapping services under multi-standard bundling.
• SGS Germany: Global TIC leader with German organic and food-safety certification offerings. Overlaps with ÖkoP in processing/trade certification but operates as part of a far broader services portfolio.
• Bureau Veritas Germany: Global TIC incumbent with German organic and agri-food certification services. Competes indirectly with ÖkoP through diversified offerings but is not specialized in the German organic control-body niche.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oekop-zertifizierungs-gmbh

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 ÖkoP Zertifizierungs GmbH