The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalency in Organic Agriculture (ITF)

The International Task Force

on Harmonization

and Equivalency

in Organic Agriculture

(ITF)

Why an ITF?

Organic trade continues to grow

at the rate of 15%-20% per year

worldwide

Why an ITF?



worldwideOver 100 countries are exporting

certified organic products

Why an ITF?



worldwideOver 100 countries are exporting

certified organic products

Over 400 public and private

certification bodies in global organic

marketplace

Why an ITF? (cont.)

Presence of many governmental and private standards and technical regulations governing organic production and certification

Why an ITF? (cont.)

Presence of many governmental and private standards and technical regulations governing organic production and certification

Mutual recognition and equivalency among these systems is extremely limited

Why an ITF? (cont.)Burden on producers and traders that need multiple certifications toaccess different markets

Why an ITF? (cont.)

Multitude of standards and certification requirements are a major obstacle to the growth of the organic sector, especially in developing countries

Burden on producers and traders that need multiple certifications toaccess different markets

Birth of the ITF

In 2001, IFOAM, FAO and UNCTAD joined forces to search for solutions to the problems in the global organic marketplace

Birth of the ITF

In 2001, IFOAM, FAO and UNCTAD joined forces to search for solutions to the problems in the global organic marketplace

Conference on International Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture was held in Nuremburg, Germany in February, 2002

Birth of the ITF (Cont.)

210 participants from 52 countries concluded that a multi-stakeholder task force should be established to elaborate practical proposals and solutions

Birth of the ITF (Cont.)

210 participants from 52 countries concluded that a multi-stakeholder task force should be established to elaborate practical proposals and solutions

In 2003, the International Task Force on Harmonization (ITF) was formed

Who is the ITF?

Who is the ITF?

Representatives of governments, inter-governmental agencies and key stakeholders from the private sector

Who is the ITF?

Representatives of governments, inter-governmental agencies and key stakeholders from the private sector

Government agencies of 29 countries including Argentina, Australia, Dominican Republic, Germany, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, and USA

Who is the ITF? (Cont.)

Eight inter-governmental agencies: OECD, FAO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNECE, UNEP, EU Commission, and WTO

Who is the ITF? (Cont.)

Eightinter-governmental agencies: OECD, FAO, ITC, UNCTAD, UNECE, UNEP, EU, and WTO

Sixteen private sector organizations and businesses including certification bodies, international standards-setting and accrediting organizations and traders

Goals of the ITF

Reduce organic trade barriers

Goals of the ITF

Reduce organic trade barriers

Seek solutions to facilitate international organic trade and access of developing countries to international organic markets

Goals of the ITF (Cont.)

Be a platform for dialogue between private and public institutions involved in trade and regulatory activities in the organic agriculture sector


Be a platform for dialogue between private and public institutions involved in trade and regulatory activities in the organic agriculture sector

Focus on opportunities for harmonization, recognition, equivalence and other forms of cooperation within and between government and private sector organic guarantee systems


Produce tools that can be used by governments and the private sector to streamline acceptance of products that are traded internationally

Phase 1:Review and Analysis

(2003 - 2005)

Process

Review organic standards, regulations and conformity assessment systems

Process


Analyze the impact of existing organic regulations on trade

Process


Analyze the impact of existing organic regulations on trade

Examine current models and mechanisms that enable organic trade

Process (Cont.)

Review experiences of cooperation, in the organic sector to facilitatetrade and market access

Process (Cont.)

Review experiences of cooperation, in the organic sector to facilitatetrade and market access

Examine models and mechanismsFrom other sectors that facilitatetrade and market access

Process (Cont.)

Identify best pathways for establishing equivalence and mutual recognition in the organic sector

Process (Cont.)

Agree on a long-term strategy and medium-term action plan

Identify best pathways for establishing equivalence and mutual recognition in the organic sector

Phase 2:Formulations of Proposals

and Tools for Solutions(2005 - 2008)

Criteria for Solutions

Solutions should support the continued growth of organic agriculture and maintain its principles

Criteria for Solutions

Solutions should support the continued growth of organic agriculture and maintain its principles

Beneficial to both producers and consumers

Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)

Respect for national sovereignty



Access to all markets with minimalbureaucracy



Fair competition

Access to all markets with minimalbureaucracy


Consumer protection


Consumer protection

Stakeholder support and participation


Consumer protection

Market choice and transparency

Stakeholder support and participation

Proposals for Solutions:Standards and Equivalence

Retain two international reference standards for organic production(Codex and IFOAM), as a basis for regional and national standards

Proposals for Solutions:Standards and Equivalence

Use a common mechanism for the judgment of equivalence

Retain two international reference standards for organic production(Codex and IFOAM), as a basis for regional and national standards

Proposals for Solutions:Certification and Recognition

Use one international performance requirement for organic certification to recognize certification bodies

Proposals for Solutions:Stakeholder Cooperation

Promote cooperation within and among government and private sectors to streamline trade

Tools and Recommendations

Tools for Solutions

International Requirements forOrganic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)

Tools for Solutions

Tool for recognizing organic certification bodies


Tools for Solutions

Tool for recognizing organic certification bodies


International norm based on ISO 65 for the organic sector

Tools for Solutions


Developed through a broad consultation process with stakeholders

Tools for Solutions

For governments and private accreditation and certification bodies to be used as a means for accepting certification of products outside their own system


Developed through a broad consultation process with stakeholders

Tools for Solutions

EquiTool

Tools for Solutions

Tool for assessing and determining the equivalency of production andprocessing standards

EquiTool

Tools for Solutions

Tool for determining the equivalency of production and processing standards

EquiTool

Consists of procedures and criteriafor assessing and deciding when an organic standard applicable in one region of the world is equivalent to a standard in another region

Recommendations

Countries make every effort to utilize ITF results in order to facilitate trade

Recommendations

Countries make every effort to utilize ITF results in order to facilitate trade

Equivalence of organic standards is based on the ITF Guidelines for Equivalency (EquiTool)

Recommendations (Cont.)

Governments commit to using the two international standards (Codex and IFOAM) as the reference point for import approvals


Governments commit to using the two international standards (Codex and IFOAM) as the reference point for import approvals

Public-private participation in the development/decision of both Codex Organic Guidelines and IFOAM standards is improved


The International Requirements for Organic Certification Bodies (IROCB) serve as a benchmark for recognizing certification bodiesand accepting organic productcertification


Governments and private accreditation systems should takeinitiatives to develop mutual recognition agreements based on the IROCB


Governments and private accreditation systems should takeinitiatives to develop mutual recognition agreements based on the IROCB

The IROCB should also serve in the long term as a catalyst for convergence on a single international requirement


The IROCB may serve as a basisfor direct accreditation when possible


The IROCB serve as a basis for direct accreditation when possible

Consideration should be given to emerging alternatives to third party certification such as participatory guarantee systems

Publications

The Benefits to Stakeholders

BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS

Organic Farmers

Access to markets and increased standard of living


Organic Farmers

Access to markets and increased standard of living

Not having to get multiple certifications to access markets in various countries


Organic Traders

One tool for many different markets would greatly simplify the process


Organic Traders

One tool for many different markets would greatly simplify the process

Lower costs in both sourcing and selling organic products and ingredients


Organic Certifiers

Lower costs and increase direct client services


Organic Certifiers


Streamline certification processes


Organic Certifiers


Streamline certification processes

Avoid having to get multiple accreditations


Governments: Exporting Countries

Improve access of country’s organic agricultural products to world markets, bring opportunity for new trading partners


Governments: Exporting Countries

Improve access of country’s organic agricultural products to world markets, bring opportunity for new trading partners

Reduce costs and provide increased economic opportunity for citizens


Governments: Importing Countries

Greater availability of products and improve our service to our constituents


Governments: Importing Countries

Greater availability of products and improve our service to our constituents

Streamline process and increase efficiency in regulating organic imports


IntergovernmentalOrganizations

Increasing the global organic marketplace improves the environment and contributes to alleviating world poverty


Organic Retailers

Greater selection of products for consumers


Organic Retailers

Greater selection of products for consumers

Support greater number of developing countries who have joined the organic marketplace


Organic Consumers

More availability and choices of organic products


Organic Consumers

More availability and choices of organic products

Support farmers in developing countries

For More Information

www.itf-organic.org

The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalency in Organic Agriculture (ITF)

Documents

Transcript of The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalency in Organic Agriculture (ITF)