Organic farming standards Presented by Isabella M. Agra, CODEX-Ghana. Brussels, 11 th July 2011

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1 Organic farming standards Presented by Isabella M. Agra, CODEX-Ghana Brussels, 11 th July 2011

2 Outline Codex Guidelines on Organically produced foods Current sections of the Guidelines under review in CCFL Participation of African delegates to CCFL

3 Why Codex? Due to the WTO/TBT agreement, Codex standards have become much more significant in international trade. Member countries signed on to WTO are obliged to accept the international standard in case of disputes. So many countries are now striving to bring the requirements in their national standards to be considered in the Codex system. Nothing prevents us from doing the same. The baggage of industry and trade standards could be a thing of the past when we agree to speak the same language with one standard

4 CAC/GL GUIDELINES FOR THE PRODUCTION, PROCESSING, LABELLING AND MARKETING OF ORGANICALLY PRODUCED FOODS OFFICIAL STANDARDS/Official Codex standards/list/cac/gl 32

5 CCFL developed the Guidelines on organic foods to facilitate trade and prevent misleading claims Adopted Revised 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2007 with amendments in 2008, 2009 and 2010 Intended to harmonize requirements for organic products at the international level, and may provide assistance to govts wishing to establish their own national regulations

6 Organic is a labelling term that denotes products that have been produced in accordance with organic production standards and certified by a duly constituted certification body or authority. Organic agriculture is based on minimizing the use of external inputs, avoiding the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Organic agriculture practices cannot ensure that products are completely free of residues, due to general environmental pollution. However, methods are used to minimize pollution of air, soil and water.

7 Sections describe the concept of organic production and the scope; description and definitions; labelling and claims; rules of production and preparation, criteria for substances allowed in organic production; inspection and certification systems; and import control Terms such as biological and ecological may be used to describe the organic system

8 SECTION 1. SCOPE The guidelines apply to: a) unprocessed plants and plant products, livestock and livestock products to the extent that the principles of production and specific inspection rules for them are introduced in Annexes 1 and 3; and b) processed agricultural crop and livestock products intended for human consumption derived from (a) above.

9 All materials and/or the products produced from (GM/GE) are not compatible with the principles of organic production (either the growing, manufacturing, or processing) and therefore are not accepted under these guidelines.

10 SECTION 4. RULES OF PRODUCTION AND PREPARATION 4.1 Organic production methods require that: a) at least the production requirements of Annex 1 should be satisfied; b) only substances listed in Annex 2 or substances approved by individual countries that meet the criteria established in the Guidelines may be used as plant protection products, fertilizers, soil conditioners 4.2 Organic processing methods require that : a) at least the processing requirements of Annex 1 should by satisfied; b) substances listed in Annex 2 or substances approved by individual countries may be used as ingredients of nonagricultural origin or processing aids 4.3 Organic products should be stored and transported according to the requirements of Annex 1.

11 SECTION 6. INSPECTION AND CERTIFICATION SYSTEMS Inspection and certification systems are used to verify the labelling of, and claims for, organically produced foods Inspection checklists (certifying authority) Importing country standards Exporting country standards

12 SECTION 7. IMPORTS Imported products may be marketed only where the competent authority or designated body in the exporting country has issued a certificate of inspection stating that the lot designated in the certificate was obtained within the rules of organic agriculture The certificate should accompany the goods, in the original copy, to the premises of the first consignee; thereafter the importer should keep the transactional certificate for not less than two years for inspection/audit purposes.

13 ANNEX 1 PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC PRODUCTION A. PLANTS AND PLANT PRODUCTS 1. The principles should have been applied on the farm during a conversion period of at least two years before sowing, or in the case of perennial crops other than grassland, at least three (3) years before the first harvest of products 2. The conversion period may only begin when a production unit has been placed under an inspection system

14 3. In cases where a whole farm is not converted the same time, it may be done progressively., the holding must be split into units. 4. Areas in conversion as well as areas converted to organic production must not be alternated (switched back and forth) between organic and conventional production methods.

15 6. Pests, diseases and weeds should be controlled by any one, or a combination, of the following measures: choice of appropriate species and varieties; appropriate rotation programs; mechanical cultivation; diversified ecosystems flame weeding; natural enemies including release of predators and parasites; biodynamic preparations from stone meal, farmyard manure or plants; mulching and mowing; grazing of animals; mechanical controls such as traps, barriers, light and sound; steam sterilization when proper rotation of soil renewal cannot take place.

16 8. Seeds and vegetative reproductive material should be from plants grown in accordance with the provisions of these guidelines for at least one generation or, in the case of perennial crops, two growing seasons.

17 B. LIVESTOCK AND LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS Livestock should be an integral part of the organic farm unit and should be raised and held according to the guidelines. Herbivores must have access to pasture and all other animals must have access to open-air runs Organic livestock mgt should aim to utilize natural breeding methods, minimize stress, prevent disease, progressively eliminate the use of chemical allopathic veterinary drugs (including antibiotics), reduce the feeding of animals with products of animal origin (e.g. meat meal), and maintain animal health and welfare.

18 C. HANDLING, STORAGE, TRANSPORTATION, PROCESSING AND PACKAGING The integrity of the organic product must be maintained throughout the processing phase with careful processing methods, limiting refining and the use of additives and processing aids. Ionizing radiation should not be used on organic products for the purpose of pest control, food preservation, and elimination of pathogens or sanitation. Ethylene may be used for ripening of kiwifruit and bananas.

19 Pest management Pest management and control measures, should be used in the following order: a) Preventative methods, such as disruption and elimination of habitat and access to facilities by pests, should be the 1⁰ methodology of pest mgt; b) Mechanical/physical and biological methods; c) Pesticidal substances appearing in Annex 2 table 2. Use of pesticides not listed in Annex 2 should not be permitted otherwise products would lose their organic status Pest control measures within storage areas or transport containers may include physical barriers or other treatments such as sound, ultra-sound, light, ultra-violet light, traps (pheromone traps and static bait traps) controlled temperature, controlled atmosphere (carbon dioxide, oxygen, nitrogen), and diatomaceous earth.

20 Processing and manufacturing Processing methods should be mechanical, physical or biological (such as fermentation and smoking) and minimize the use of non-agricultural ingredients

21 Packaging Packaging materials should preferably be chosen from bio-degradable, recycled or recyclable sources.

22 Storage and transport Product integrity should be maintained during any storage and transportation and handling by use of the following precautions: a) Organic products must be protected at all times from co-mingling with non-organic products; and b) from contact with materials and substances not permitted for use in organic farming and handling. Where only part of the unit is certified, other product not covered by these guidelines should be stored and handled separately and both types of products should be clearly identified.

23 ANNEX 2 PERMITTED SUBSTANCES FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC FOODS Table 1 SUBSTANCES FOR USE IN SOIL FERTILIZING AND CONDITIONING Table 2 Substances For Plant Pest And Disease Control Table 3 Ingredients Of Non-agricultural Origin Table 4 Processing Aids Which May Be Used For The Preparation Of Products

24 ANNEX 3 MINIMUM INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS AND PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES UNDER THE INSPECTION OR CERTIFICATION SYSTEM 1. Inspection measures are necessary across the whole of the food chain to verify product conforms to internationally agreed practices. The official or officially recognized certification body or authority and the competent authority should establish policies and procedures in accordance with these guidelines. 2. Access by the inspection body to all written and/or documentary records and to the establishment under the inspection scheme is essential

25 Current Issues Inclusion of ethylene for other products - Use of ethylene for the ripening of fruit Use of ethylene for the degreening of citrus for fruit fly prevention and flowering agent for pineapples Use of ethylene as sprouting inhibitor for potatoes and onions Annex 2: Inclusion of new substances Organic Aquaculture - New work on organic aquaculture animal and seaweed production Structured approach to the review of the Guidelines

26 Participation in Codex Codex Commission Codex session CCFL, WGs Comments by govts CCPs In Country discussions NCCs, Technical committees

27 Codex step procedure Step 1 New work item decided by CAC Step 2 Prep. of proposed draft by Codex secretariat Step 3 Circulation for comment by Member countries Step 4 Discussion at committee level Step 5 Critical Review by CAC Step 6 Circulation for comment by Member countries Step 7 Discussion at committee level Step 8 Approval at Commission ewgs Physical WGs

28 African participants in CCFL List of countries Number interested in organic agric?

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31 Conclusion Organic production systems continue to evolve and that organic principles and standards will continue to be discussed. CCFL will continue to review the guidelines on a regular basis. It is in our interest as member countries to make proposals and/or actively participate in the work of the committee

32 Therefore, it is imperative that we engage in active networking before and after Codex meetings to share ideas. AU and/or regional groupings should consider organising annual meetings so that Codex delegates could form strong alliances to push our common interests. We did it together in Accra during the WG meeting on labelling of GM products and we can do it again

33 MEETINGS AND EVENTS/Reports OTHER DOCUMENTATION ON CODEX THANK YOU