What does KRAV mean?
- According to a Kantar survey from 2025, almost all Swedes recognize the KRAV label. This makes it the most well-known label for organic food in Sweden.
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KRAV-labelled food is produced according to standards for organic production, animal welfare, biodiversity, climate-related measures and working conditions.
- Thousands of businesses across around 15 different sectors are certified to KRAV standards. These include farmers, livestock producers, food manufacturers, fishers and restaurants.
- The name KRAV originates from the Swedish phrase Kontrollföreningen för Alternativ Odling (“The Control Association for Alternative Farming”), which was the organisation’s former name.
- KRAV is a non-profit economic association.
Organic farming according to IFOAM
IFOAM is an international membership organisation working to advance sustainable agriculture. KRAV develops its standards based on IFOAM’s principles for organic production.
IFOAMs Four Principles of Organic Agriculture
- sustain and enhance the health of soil, plants, animals, humans and the planet as one indivisible whole
- be based on living ecological systems and cycles, working with them, emulating them and helping to sustain them
- be managed in a precautionary and responsible manner to protect the health and well-being of current and future generations and the environment
- build relationships that ensure fairness with regard to the shared environment and opportunities for life
KRAV-labelled food is organic – and more
KRAV-labelled food is organic, but it must also comply with additional requirements designed to contribute to greater biodiversity, reduced climate impact, high standards of animal welfare and fair working conditions for people employed by KRAV-certified businesses. KRAV standards also cover more areas than the EU organic regulation, including fisheries, slaughterhouses, school cafeterias and restaurants.
- Instead of synthetic fertilizers, farmers use nutrients such as manure from their own livestock.
- Crops are not treated with synthetic chemical pesticides. Instead, preventive methods such as crop rotation are used to manage weeds and pests, while weeds are controlled mechanically or by hand.
- Animals are fed KRAV-certified feed and are given opportunities to express their natural behaviors. They spend extensive time outdoors. Medicines may only be administered when animals are ill, not as a preventive measure.
- Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) are not permitted.
- Only a limited number of additives may be used in processed foods and prepared meals bearing the KRAV label.
Companies wishing to produce and sell products carrying the KRAV label must comply with both the EU organic regulation and KRAV’s additional standards. That means they carry both the KRAV label and the EU organic logo (the EU organic leaf).
