ORGANIC GUARANTEE SYSTEMS
• Today, 110 countries have an organic regulation: 66 fully implemented; 19 finalized regulations but not yet fully implemented; 25 countries in the process of drafting
• Regulations include import requirements. • In addition, there are hundreds of private organic standards of with standards extended to social justice, restaurants, fisheries,
ecotourism, cosmetics. • 576 organic certification bodies worldwide (from 85 countries), with a
few operating in most continents. • Certification bodies with private organic standards: 121
Anticipating the Future##
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An Entangling Web of Regula1ons
• Impor&ng In: local regulatory/market requirement demanded of produc1on from other countries (different agro-‐ecology & sector condi1ons)
§ Expor&ng Out: from local agro-‐ecology & sector condi1ons to different regula1ons & market requirements
What are the problems?
WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS?
BUSINESS-AS-USUAL IS NOT AN OPTION
• The landscape for organic trade has changed drastically with the proliferation of standards and verification systems, North and South, East and West …
• We need to improve access of all countries’ organic agricultural products to world markets and bring opportunity for new trading partners
• We need to reduce transaction costs and provide increased economic opportunities to producers, operators and consumers
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ITF#International Task Force#
on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture#2002-2008#
Seeking Solutions
ITF Recommendations and Tools for Harmonization and Equivalence
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Harmonization: Cooperation among governments and private sector, regionally, to create regional standards and recognition, which facilitate trade.#
#Equivalence: Determine that the standards and regulatory systems,
although different, meet common objectives and can be mutually recognized and accepted, which facilitates trade#
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# Equivalence and Harmonization Tools#
#######ITF developed two practical tools, IROCB and EquiTool for# assessing equivalence of organic standards and certification systems.# Also useful in harmonizing.#
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AIM is to add efficiency and standardize the equivalence# assessment process internationally – to make it easier for everybody##
EquiTool
(COROS) #
• Based on research on global common objectives and requirements of organic standards#
#• Can be used for both government and private standards##• Ten objectives ##• Standards can be assess for alignment with the COROS objectives and
requirements##• Promotes equivalence and harmonization based on objectives, not line-
by-line details##• Spreadsheet format facilitates entry of detailed other standards, which
are then automatically aligned to the objectives and related requirements of COROS. #
Interna1onal Requirements for Organic Cer1fica1on Bodies (IROCB)
• Sector Specific Adap1on of ISO 65 • Adds requirements suitable to organic inspec1on/audit and cer1fica1on. • Addresses all points of ISO 65, but with less detail • Spreadsheet version for assessing alignment of other cer1fica1on
requirements
Bilateral or Mul1lateral Equivalence
IROCB &
EquiTool/COROS
Vision
IROCB &
EquiTool/COROS
= Regional Organic Standards and Technical Regula1ons
UN
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RLD
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Clearing a Path for Sustainable Trade
IMPLEMENTING SOLUTIONS
OBJECTIVES
• Dialogue between private and public institutions involved in trade and regulatory activities to reduce organic trade barriers
• Focus on practical opportunities for harmonization, recognition,
equivalence and other forms of cooperation among governments and private sector organic control systems.
• Facilitate international organic trade and access of developing countries to international organic markets
Our work#
• outreach!
• pilot projects!
• technical assistance!!• facilitation!!• analysis!
Our work#
• outreach!!
– Presentations by appointment with key governments and other key stakeholders. !
– Conference, 2012 “Let the Good Products Flow!”!
– General presentations and sessions, such as BioFach !
Our work#
• pilot projects!!
– Self assessments of national standards and certificatio requiremeents to COROS and IROCB e.g Canada , Indonesia and Philippines!
!!!!!
Our work#
• technical assistance!!
! !preparation of assessments of alignment of national standards and certification requirements with the Tools.!
!! !!! ! !- assessments completed for 7 national organic standards in!! ! ! connection with a harmonization process in Asia.!
!! ! !• Brazil and Colombia are underway!
Our work#
• Facilitation, especially of regional harmonization and recognition process!
!! !Regional Harmonization process Asia!! ! !_ public-private working group on creating a system for ! !! ! !recognition of national regulations and certification bodies ! ! !in East, South-East, South Asia!! ! !- used Tools as basis for comparing an aligning standards!! ! !- developed Asia Regional Organic Standard, based on ! !! ! !COROS!! ! !- results are proposed to be taken up in the development of !! ! ! the ASEAN Economic Community, planned for 2015.!
!!Regional Harmonization process Central America and Dominican Republic!! ! !- in cooperation with IICA as regional facilitator!! ! !!!!
Our work#
• Analysis !!
!- revision of Tools based on feedback. !!
!- study on Potential of Trade Agreements as Mechanisms for Equivalence of Organic Regulations!
!!!- analysis of the bilateral equivalence processes between Canada-US, Canada-EU and EU-US, based on interviews with members of the equivalence delegations!
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www.goma-‐organic.org