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

ogs@ifoam.bio | www.ifoam.bio/ogs

RESPONSIBLE EDITOR:Joelle Katto-Andrighettoogs@ifoam.bio

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 ogs@ifoam.bio.

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 ogs@ifoam.bio.

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