In order for inspections to be as objective as possible, the union decided to entrust them to an independent body,
ECOCERT SAS FRANCE, which checks that each member property respects the viticulture and vinification requirements. Ecocert sends an inspection report to the union, which then issues a biodynamic agriculture certificate to approved members for the year in which the inspection was carried out.
After four years of conversion to biodynamic agriculture, the SIVCBD issues official BIODYVIN approval to members that have been inspected during this period.
All of the SIVCBD's member properties are therefore certified AB (Organic Agriculture) by an inspection body, and receive BIODYVIN approval from the SIVCBD following the inspection carried out by Ecocert SAS France.
After reviewing its members' oenological practices, the SIVCBD asked ECOCERT to carry out inspections of the various vinification operations carried out by its members. This inspection is carried out at the same time as the "vineyard" inspection.
To obtain BIODYVIN approval, some oenological practices are prohibited or regulated (
cf Minimum requirements). The objective of a vinification that respects the biodynamic principles applied in the vineyard would have to be the elimination of any input in the winemaking process and any practice that would change the grapes' natural balance.
More simply: nothing added, nothing taken out, nothing changed.
SIVCBD members make this principle their objective, but sometimes it is hard to achieve. The "minimum vinification requirements" gives details of all the tolerated practices, with the proviso that the properties which use them undertake to carry out experiments in parallel, in order to further reduce the doses of products used or to eliminate certain practices.