Introduction to the special section on organic certification systems: Policy issues and research topics

This article introduces a special section in Food Policy that discusses organic certification systems. Among the various issues in this field, the three articles in this special section address (i) the determinants of farmers' decisions regarding whether to utilise organic production practices and whether to apply for organic certification; (ii) consumer preferences for different organic labels; and (iii) how to organise effective risk-based inspections. Key policy recommendations derived from this special section include continuously striving to reduce the transaction costs of all actors in the organic certification process, implementing a risk-based inspection system based on the collection of adequate farm data by certification bodies and harmonising the supervision of the certification system within the EU.