ITF Ppt Template 0908db v2

8/2/2019 ITF Ppt Template 0908db v2

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The International Task Forceon Harmonizationand Equivalency

in Organic Agriculture

(ITF)


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Why an ITF?

Organic trade continues to growat the rate of 15%-20% per year

worldwide


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Why an ITF?


worldwide

Over 100 countries are exportingcertified organic products


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Why an ITF?


worldwide

Over 100 countries are exportingcertified organic productsOver 400 public and privatecertification bodies in global organic

marketplace


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Why an ITF?(cont.)

Presence of many governmentaland private standards and technicalregulations governing organic

production and certification


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Why an ITF?(cont.)

Presence of many governmentaland private standards and technicalregulations governing organic

production and certification

Mutual recognition and equivalencyamong these systems is extremely

limited


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Why an ITF?(cont.)

Burden on producers and tradersthat need multiple certifications toaccess different markets


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Why an ITF?(cont.)

Multitude of standards andcertification requirements are a majorobstacle to the growth of the organicsector, especially in developingcountries

Burden on producers and tradersthat need multiple certifications toaccess different markets


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Birth of the ITF

In 2001, IFOAM, FAO and UNCTADjoined forces to search for solutionsto the problems in the global organic

marketplace


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Birth of the ITF

In 2001, IFOAM, FAO and UNCTADjoined forces to search for solutionsto the problems in the global organic

marketplace

Conference on InternationalHarmonization and Equivalence

in Organic Agriculture was heldin Nuremburg, Germanyin February, 2002


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Birth of the ITF (Cont.)

210 participants from 52 countriesconcluded that a multi-stakeholdertask force should be established

to elaborate practical proposalsand solutions


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Birth of the ITF (Cont.)

210 participants from 52 countriesconcluded that a multi-stakeholdertask force should be established

to elaborate practical proposalsand solutions

In 2003, the International Task Force

on Harmonization (ITF) was formed


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Who is the ITF?


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Who is the ITF?

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


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Who is the ITF?

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

Government agencies of 29 countriesincluding Argentina, Australia,Dominican Republic, Germany, India,

Indonesia, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda,and USA


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Who is the ITF? (Cont.)

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


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Who is the ITF? (Cont.)

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

Sixteen private sector organizationsand businesses includingcertification bodies, international

standards-setting and accreditingorganizations and traders


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Goals of the ITF

Reduce organic trade barriers


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Goals of the ITF

Reduce organic trade barriers

Seek solutions to facilitate

international organic trade andaccess of developing countriesto international organic markets


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Goals of the ITF (Cont.)

Be a platform for dialogue betweenprivate and public institutions involvedin trade and regulatory activities

in the organic agriculture sector


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Be a platform for dialogue betweenprivate and public institutions involvedin trade and regulatory activities

in the organic agriculture sector

Focus on opportunities forharmonization, recognition,

equivalence and other formsof cooperation within and betweengovernment and private sector

organic guarantee systems


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Produce tools that can be usedby governments and the privatesector to streamline acceptance

of products that are tradedinternationally


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Phase 1:

Review and Analysis(2003 - 2005)


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Process

Review organic standards,regulations and conformityassessment systems


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Process


Analyze the impact of existingorganic regulations on trade


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Process


Analyze the impact of existingorganic regulations on trade

Examine current modelsand mechanisms that enableorganic trade


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Process (Cont.)

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


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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


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Process (Cont.)

Identify best pathways forestablishing equivalence and mutualrecognition in the organic sector


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Process (Cont.)

Agree on a long-term strategyand medium-term action plan

Identify best pathways forestablishing equivalence and mutualrecognition in the organic sector


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Phase 2:Formulations of Proposals

and Tools for Solutions(2005 - 2008)


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Criteria for Solutions

Solutions should support thecontinued growth of organicagriculture and maintain its principles


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Criteria for Solutions

Solutions should support thecontinued growth of organicagriculture and maintain its principles

Beneficial to both producersand consumers


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Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)

Respect for national sovereignty


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Access to all markets with minimal

bureaucracy


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Fair competition

Access to all markets with minimal

bureaucracy


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Consumer protection


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Consumer protection

Stakeholder support and

participation


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Consumer protection

Market choice and transparency

Stakeholder support and

participation


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Proposals for Solutions:

Standards and EquivalenceRetain two international referencestandards for organic production

(Codex and IFOAM), as a basisfor regional and national standards


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Standards and Equivalence

Use a common mechanism for the

judgment of equivalence

Retain two international referencestandards for organic production

(Codex and IFOAM), as a basisfor regional and national standards


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Certification and RecognitionUse one international performancerequirement for organic certification

to recognize certification bodies


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Stakeholder CooperationPromote cooperation withinand among government and private

sectors to streamline trade


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Tools and Recommendations


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Tools for Solutions

International Requirements forOrganic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)


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Tools for Solutions

Tool for recognizing organic

certification bodies



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Tools for Solutions

Tool for recognizing organic

certification bodies


International norm based onISO 65 for the organic sector


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Tools for Solutions


Developed through a broad

consultation processwith stakeholders


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Tools for Solutions

For governments and privateaccreditation and certificationbodies to be used as a meansfor accepting certification ofproducts outside their own system


Developed through a broad

consultation processwith stakeholders


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Tools for Solutions

EquiTool


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Tools for Solutions

Tool for assessing and determiningthe equivalency of production andprocessing standards

EquiTool


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Tools for Solutions

Tool for determining the equivalencyof production and processingstandards

EquiTool

Consists of procedures and criteriafor assessing and deciding when anorganic standard applicable in oneregion of the world is equivalent to astandard in another region


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Recommendations

Countries make every effort to utilizeITF results in order to facilitate trade


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Recommendations

Countries make every effort to utilizeITF results in order to facilitate trade

Equivalence of organic standardsis based on the ITF Guidelinesfor Equivalency (EquiTool)


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Recommendations (Cont.)

Governments commit to usingthe two international standards(Codex and IFOAM) as the

reference point for import approvals


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Governments commit to usingthe two international standards(Codex and IFOAM) as the

reference point for import approvals

Public-private participation in thedevelopment/decision of both

Codex Organic Guidelinesand IFOAM standards is improved


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The International Requirementsfor Organic Certification Bodies(IROCB) serve as a benchmark

for recognizing certification bodiesand accepting organic productcertification


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Governments and privateaccreditation systems should takeinitiatives to develop mutual

recognition agreements based onthe IROCB


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Recommendations(Cont.)

Governments and privateaccreditation systems should takeinitiatives to develop mutual

recognition agreements based onthe IROCB

The IROCB should also serve

in the long term as a catalystfor convergence on a singleinternational requirement


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The IROCB may serve as a basisfor direct accreditation when possible


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The IROCB serve as a basis fordirect accreditation when possible

Consideration should be givento emerging alternatives to thirdparty certification such asparticipatory guarantee systems


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Publications


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The Benefits to Stakeholders


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BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS

Organic FarmersAccess to markets and increasedstandard of living


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Organic FarmersAccess to markets and increasedstandard of living

Not having to get multiplecertifications to access marketsin various countries


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Organic TradersOne tool for many different marketswould greatly simplify the process


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Organic TradersOne tool for many different marketswould greatly simplify the process

Lower costs in both sourcingand selling organic productsand ingredients


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Organic CertifiersLower costs and increase directclient services


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Streamline certification processes


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Streamline certification processes

Avoid having to get multiple

accreditations


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Governments:Exporting Countries

Improve access of countrys organic

agricultural products to worldmarkets, bring opportunity for newtrading partners


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Governments:Exporting CountriesImprove access of countrys organic

agricultural products to worldmarkets, bring opportunity for newtrading partners

Reduce costs and provide increasedeconomic opportunity for citizens


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Governments:Importing Countries

Greater availability of products

and improve our service to ourconstituents


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Governments:Importing CountriesGreater availability of products

and improve our service to ourconstituents

Streamline process and increaseefficiency in regulating organicimports


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IntergovernmentalOrganizations

Increasing the global organic

marketplace improves theenvironment and contributesto alleviating world poverty


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IntergovernmentalOrganizations

Increasing the global organic

marketplace improves theenvironment and contributesto alleviating world poverty


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Organic RetailersGreater selection of productsfor consumers


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Organic RetailersGreater selection of productsfor consumers

Support greater number ofdeveloping countries who havejoined the organic marketplace


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Organic ConsumersMore availability and choicesof organic products


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Support farmers in developingcountries


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Support farmers in developingcountries

F M I f ti


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For More Information

www.itf-organic.org

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ITF Ppt Template 0908db v2