2 2 2 - | ifoam · • the swiss aid organization heks contracted us for a feasibility study on pgs...
TRANSCRIPT
IFOAM –Organics International develops a new toolkit for governments: Policies and Programs (besides regulations) that support organic development.
In a world where organic is increasingly being regulated by governments, you could ask: what can be the role of a non-governmental organization like IFOAM – Organics International in shaping organic guarantee systems (OGS) worldwide. The answer is: 1) Knowledge and position building, 2) Advice and advocacy.
OGS are the tools by which consumers can trust and therefore buy organic. They are also often the tools through which we, the sector, identify ourselves (i.e. the slogan of the Family of Standards “That’s Organic – Worldwide”) and through which others, including governments and retailers, identify us when they wish to support us. Organic regulations also determine how organic products may or may not be traded around the world.
Regulatory frameworks and national strategies regarding
IFOAM - Organics International, IFOAM EU and their advocacy partner the Fair Trade Advocacy Office in Brussels continue to advocate against the EU Commission’s proposal to shift the EU organic import regime towards a compliance approach. The IFOAM & Fair Trade position remains that an import regime based on equivalence would be the most fair, effective, and politically desirable system to ensure that developing country smallholders can retain market access to the EU, and that EU organic consumers and processors retain access to affordable organic tropical products and ingredients. The position was advocated to key members of the EU Parliament on April 16th, in an event sponsored by the MEP Paul Brannen (UK).
organic guarantee systems therefore have the greatest impact on organic market development.
Yes, decisions regarding OGS matters are mostly taken at a national (or regional, e.g. EU) level, and by government entities. But there is so much efficiency to be gained by having a global knowledge platform on this. On such complex technical matters, there are often only a handful of experts in the world who have the necessary background to suggest the right approach.
This is the value and role of IFOAM- Organics International: gather global knowledge (such as the study we are undertaking on policies supporting organic, see p 2); bring experts together to build positions on highly technical issues (such as plant breeding, see p 2), and then use this knowledge and those positions to advise those in search of the best approach (such as in the examples on p 2) or to lobby those whom we believe are taking the wrong approach (see textbox on this page).
Nº21 – May 2015
THE ROLE OF IFOAM - ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL IN OGS MATTERS. THE IFOAM - ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL & FAIR TRADE POSITION ON THE EU IMPORT REGIME.
THE PUBLICATION OF THE IFOAM ORGANIC GUARANTEE SYSTEM
[email protected] | www.ifoam.bio/ogs
RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:Joelle [email protected]
Use the expertise of IFOAM - Organics International in your projects.
Appointment of three technical working groups
2 2 2
by Markus Arbenz
USE THE EXPERTISE OF IFOAM - ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL IN YOUR PROJECTS.
For many years, IFOAM –Organics International has been providing advice to policy makers, national organic movements, NGOs and others, on strategies to develop a sustainable and credible organic sector.
Governments, NGOs and others, have asked us for technical advice and assistance in issues such as standard development, policy formulation, certification systems or the establishment of Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), capacity building, national strategy development, etc.
Technical advice reaches the beneficiaries through various ways. In the past few months, the following activities are examples of how our technical advice reached countries with a developing organic sector:
• The Organic Regulation Toolkit was published and presented by our President Andre Leu at the 5th International Conference on the organic sector develop-ment in Central/Eastern European and Central Asian countries, in Ukraine in April. The Organic Regulation Template has been translated into the Russian language for easier use by the countries in the region.
• Detailed technical advice was provided on request to several countries on organic regulatory aspects, including Mexico, Mongolia, Lebanon, Morocco, and the Khartoum State of Sudan.
• The Swiss aid organization HEKS contracted us for a feasibility study on PGS in Senegal.
• The German aid organization “Brot für die Welt” contracted us to brief and coach one of their project staff on organic certification and label develop-ment before a mission to Cambodia.
• The Vietnam Organic Agriculture Association (VOAA) is getting assistance from us to develop a project that builds organic value chains through PGS and third-party guarantee options.
• The National University of Taiwan contracted us to perform a series of PGS workshops and seminars.
• The Korean International Cooperation Agency contracted us to be an adviser for a project feasibility study in the DR Congo.
Depending on the intensity of the support, advice can be provided free of charge, or for a fee. For any enquiry, please contact [email protected].
APPOINTMENT OF THREE TECHNICAL WORKING GROUPS
In March this year, we called for experts to volunteer on several of our working groups to help address some of the motions approved at the IFOAM - Organics International General Assembly 2014. Three working groups have now been nominated, with the following members:
New Plant Breeding Techniques: Kirsten Arp (Germany), Gunter Backes (Germany), Eric Gall (Belgium), Michael Glos (USA), Helen Jensen (Canada), Andre Leu (Australia), Louise Luttikholt (Germany), Heli Matilainen (New-Zealand), Chito Medina (The Philippines), Monika Messmer (Switzerland), Adrian Rodriguez-Burruezo (Spain), Gebhard Rossmanith (Germany), Michael Sligh (USA).
Dealing with Cell Fusion Varieties: Kirsten Arp (Germany), John Navazio (USA), Gebhard Rossmanith / Bernd Horneburg (Germany), Andre Leu (Australia), Michael Sligh (USA).
Closing Cycles in Organic Agriculture: Mohammad Al Oun (UAE), Reza Ardakani (Iran), Stephen Barrow (South Africa), Alyssa Joyce (Sweden), Patrick Kerrigan (USA), Carlos Armênio Khatounian (Brazil), Andre Leu (Australia), Louise Luttikholt (Germany), Derek Lynch (Canada), Kurt Möller (Germany), Pulikesh Naidu (India), Gerold Rahmann (Germany).
IFOAM - ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPS A NEW TOOLKIT FOR GOVERNMENTS:Policies and Programs (besides regulations) that support organic development.
In the past few years, IFOAM- Organics International has published a number of tools and policy recommendations related to organic regulations. These tools and recommendations have been compiled into the “Organic Regulation Toolkit” (see textbox on page 1). However, to promote the development of organic agriculture in their countries, regulating the sector is far from being the only thing that governments can do. In fact, sometimes supporting policies and programs can be a much more efficient way to develop the sector, than a regulation.
To date, there is however no globally compiled information on lessons learnt from countries that have implemented such supporting policies and programs. We are therefore initiating a global study on this topic, with a view to learn from what various governments have done around the world to promote organic. This can range from research support, to certificate cost-share programs and subsidies, public procurement, export assistance, and many other measures.
The study will start with a data collection phase, include an analysis of the data and an assessment of the outcome of the various policies and programs, and conclude with recommendations towards governments and legal framework templates and other tools for governments wishing to support the development of the organic sector.
The study is foreseen to be ready in early 2016. In conducting this study we will draw on the knowledge of its members and working partners. Anyone interested in contributing to this process and to providing links, ideas, opinions or recommendations is welcome to write to [email protected].
EU Organic Regulation
Switzerland Organic Regulation
Turkey Organic Regulation
Bio Suisse Standards, Switzerland
Biocyclic Standards, Cyprus
Nature & Progrès Standards, France
The EcoWellness Standard, Germany
CCPB Global Standard, Italy
Krav Standards, Sweden
THE FAMILY OF STANDARDS contains all standards officially endorsed as organic by the Organic Movement, based on their equivalence with the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards. Both private standards and government regulations are admissible.
That’s Organic - Worldwide.
www.ifoam.bio/ogs
OCEANIA
GLOBAL
AFRICA
ASIA
EUROPE
THE AMERICAS
Tunisia Organic RegulationEast African Organic Products Standard
Siyavuna Organic Standards, South AfricaUganda Organic Standard, UgandaZimbabwe Standard for Organic Farming, Zimbabwe
Argencert Organic Standard, Argentina
Letis IFOAM Accredited Standard, Argentina
OIA Organic Standards, Argentina
Bolicert Private Standards, Bolivia
IBD Organic Guidelines, Brazil
DOAM Organic Standards, Dominica
Red Mexicana de Tianguis y Mercados Orgánicos’ Standard, Mexico
CCOF International Standard, USA
Farm Verified Organic Requirements Manual, USA
NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care, USA
Korea Organic Regulation
OFDC Organic Certification Standard, China
Sunshine Earth Organic Standard, China
HKORC Organic Standard, Hong Kong
Biocert India Standards, India
Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association Organic Standard, Japan
MASIPAG Organic Standards, The Philippines
DCOK, LLC International Standards, South Korea
GOAA International Standards, South Korea
ACT Basic Standard, Thailand
Vietnam PGS Standards, Vietnam
National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce, Australia
New Zealand Organic Export Regulation
Pacific Organic Standard, Pacific Community
Australian Certified Organic Standard, Australia
NASAA Organic Standard, Australia
Asian Regional Organic Standard
Saudi Arabia Organic Regulation
China Organic Regulation
India Organic RegulationIsrael Organic RegulationJapan Organic Regulation
Argentina Organic Regulation
Canada Organic Regulation
Costa Rica Organic Regulation
USA Organic Regulation
IFOAM StandardInternational Standard for Forest Garden Products (FGP)
Note: Applicant standards are marked in grey. Family Standards Frame: April 13, 2015. Click on each standard to see more details. Best viewed with Adobe Reader
AsureQuality Organic Standard, New Zealand
BioGro Organic Standards, New Zealand
PROGRAMS listed in this frame require, for a product to be considered organic, that it be certified to a standard approved in the IFOAM Family of Standards. Those programs are therefore considered by the organic movement as having a sound and credible criterion to ensure the integrity of organic products accepted under their program, from the standard point of view.
PROGRAMS RECOGNIZING THE IFOAM FAMILY OF STANDARDS AS THE CRITERION FOR ACCEPTING A STANDARD AS ORGANIC
www.ifoam.bio/ogs
East African Organic Mark license requirements
Australia’s requirements for imported organic or biodynamic products and ingredients
Saudi Arabian procedures and conditions for importing organic products
BioFach Exhibitor/Product acceptance requirements
EcoWellness labeling program
Australian Certified Organic Standard ingredient and product approval program
Global Organic Textile Standard requirements for organic fibres
Middle East Natural & Organic Product Expo’s technical criteria for organic products
NATRUE Label: organic raw materials requirements
Family Benefits Frame: July 22, 2014
GOVERNMENT IMPORT REGULATION PROGRAMS
PRIVATE-PUBLIC LABELING PROGRAMS
PRIVATE PROGRAMS
EU Organic Regulation
Switzerland Organic Regulation
Turkey Organic Regulation
Bio Suisse Standards, Switzerland
Biocyclic Standards, Cyprus
Nature & Progrès Standards, France
Gäa Private Standards, Germany
The EcoWellness Standard, Germany
CCPB Global Standard, Italy
Italian Organic Standard, Italy
Krav Standards, Sweden
THE FAMILY OF STANDARDS contains all standards officially endorsed as organic by the Organic Movement, based on their equivalence with the Common Objectives and Requirements of Organic Standards. Both private standards and government regulations are admissible.
That’s Organic - Worldwide.
www.ifoam.bio/ogs
OCEANIA
OCEANIA
AFRICA
ASIA
EUROPE
THE AMERICAS
Tunisia Organic RegulationEast African Organic Products Standard
Afrisco Organic Standards, South Africa Siyavuna Organic Standards, South AfricaUganda Organic Standard, UgandaZimbabwe Standard for Organic Farming, Zimbabwe
Argencert Organic Standard, Argentina
Letis IFOAM Accredited Standard, Argentina
OIA Organic Standards, Argentina
Bolicert Private Standards, Bolivia
IBD Organic Guidelines, Brazil
DOAM Organic Standards, Dominica
Red Mexicana de Tianguis y Mercados Orgánicos’ Standard, Mexico
CCOF International Standard, USA
Farm Verified Organic Requirements Manual, USA
NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care, USA
Korea Organic Regulation
OFDC Organic Certification Standard, China
Sunshine Earth Organic Standard, China
HKORC Organic Standard, Hong Kong
Biocert India Standards, India
Japan Organic & Natural Foods Association Organic Standard, Japan
MASIPAG Organic Standards, The Philippines
CONU Organic Standard, South Korea
DCOK, LLC International Standards, South Korea
GOAA International Standards, South Korea
ACT Basic Standard, Thailand
Vietnam PGS Standards, Vietnam
National Standard for Organic and Bio-Dynamic Produce, Australia
New Zealand Organic Export Regulation
Pacific Organic Standard, Pacific Community
Australian Certified Organic Standard, Australia
NASAA Organic Standard, Australia
Asian Regional Organic Standard
Saudi Arabia Organic Regulation
China Organic Regulation
India Organic RegulationIsrael Organic RegulationJapan Organic Regulation
Argentina Organic Regulation
Canada Organic Regulation
Costa Rica Organic Regulation
USA Organic Regulation
IFOAM StandardInternational Standard for Forest Garden Products (FGP)
Note: Applicant standards are marked in grey. Family Standards Frame: February 19, 2015. Click on each standard to see more details. Best viewed with Adobe Reader
AsureQuality Organic Standard, New Zealand
BioGro Organic Standards, New Zealand