Briefing Paper
Framework for Cooperation on Organic Labeling and Trade in Asia
Recognizing that organic agriculture contributes to the achievement of the UN Millennium
Development Goals and that the organic sector in the Asia Region1 is growing dramatically,
Asia government and other stakeholders, supported by GOMA have undertaken an initiative to
develop a regional framework for cooperation on organic labeling and trade. The aim is to
foster recognition of the organic standards and conformity assessment systems throughout the
regions, thus lowering or avoiding barriers to trade of organic products. A Working Group of
both government and private sector representatives is overseeing the development of this
framework.
Harmonization of organic standards and equivalence among both organic standards and
conformity assessment systems were affirmed as the best approaches and components for
achieving recognition within and beyond the Region. The Working Group is focusing on the
following approaches:
Harmonized Standards: The regional working group is developing the Asia Regional Organic
Standard (AROS) through a public-private consultative process. The development of the
standard is spearheaded by a Drafting Group appointed by the Working Group. This standard
is based on core international norms and regional minimum requirements. The standard is
envisioned as a basis for equivalence among the Region’s national standards and in the long
term it could foster more harmonization of the national standards. AROS can also serve as a
main reference for countries that are undertaking development of a national standard.
Equivalence: The working group is also identifying opportunities to initiate multi-lateral and/or
bilateral equivalence discussions in the Region using two Tools that were developed from past
FAO/IFOAM/UNCTAD cooperation. These are the Guide for Assessing Equivalence of Organic
Standards and Technical Regulations (EquiTool) and the International Requirements for Organic
Certification Bodies (IROCB). A pilot project on equivalence of the organic regulatory systems
of the Philippines and Indonesia is underway, using the Tools.
Cooperation: Mechanisms to promote further cooperation among accreditation and
certification bodies working in the Region’s organic sector and between government and
private organic regulatory/guarantee systems is also addressed by the Working Group. This
will especially benefit those countries that do not currently regulate organic labeling and trade.
The Working Group is considering to develop a multilateral agreement (MLA) for the
framework based on these components.
An initial meeting of the working group was held in Mumbai in December 2010, and a second
meeting took place in Seoul, Korea in September 2011. The Working Group aims to complete
the framework in 2012. Working Group participants have come from Bhutan, Cambodia,
China, Hong Kong, China (SAR), India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines,
Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Vietnam.
For more information contact GOMA’s project Manager, Diane Bowen, whose contact
information is listed below.
1
In this context the Region comprises East, South-East and South Asia