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?
Organic trade continues to grow
at the rate of 15%-20% per year
worldwide
Over 100 countries are exporting
certified organic products
Why an ITF?
Organic trade continues to grow
at the rate of 15%-20% per year
worldwide
Over 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 to
access different markets
Why an ITF? (cont.)
Burden on producers and traders
that need multiple certifications to
access different markets
Multitude of standards and
certification requirements are a major
obstacle to the growth of the organic
sector, especially in developing
countries
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
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
Focus on opportunities for
harmonization, recognition,
equivalence and other forms
of cooperation within and between
government and private sector
organic guarantee systems
Goals of the ITF (Cont.)
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
Review organic standards,
regulations and conformity
assessment systems
Analyze the impact of existing
organic regulations on trade
Process
Review organic standards,
regulations and conformity
assessment systems
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 facilitate
trade and market access
Process (Cont.)
Review experiences of cooperation,
in the organic sector to facilitate
trade and market access
Examine models and mechanisms
From other sectors that facilitate
trade and market access
Process (Cont.)
Identify best pathways for
establishing equivalence and mutual
recognition in the organic sector
Process (Cont.)
Identify best pathways for
establishing equivalence and mutual
recognition in the organic sector
Agree on a long-term strategy
and medium-term action plan
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
Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)
Respect for national sovereignty
Access to all markets with minimal
bureaucracy
Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)
Respect for national sovereignty
Access to all markets with minimal
bureaucracy
Fair competition
Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)
Consumer protection
Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)
Consumer protection
Stakeholder support and
participation
Criteria for Solutions (Cont.)
Consumer protection
Stakeholder support and
participation
Market choice and transparency
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
Retain two international reference
standards for organic production
(Codex and IFOAM), as a basis
for regional and national standards
Use a common mechanism for the
judgment of equivalence
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 for
Organic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)
Tools for Solutions
International Requirements for
Organic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)
Tool for recognizing organic
certification bodies
Tools for Solutions
International Requirements for
Organic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)
Tool for recognizing organic
certification bodies
International norm based on
ISO 65 for the organic sector
Tools for Solutions
International Requirements for
Organic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)
Developed through a broad
consultation process
with stakeholders
Tools for Solutions
International Requirements for
Organic Certifying Bodies (IROCB)
Developed through a broad
consultation process
with stakeholders
For governments and private
accreditation and certification
bodies to be used as a means
for accepting certification of
products outside their own system
Tools for Solutions
EquiTool
Tools for Solutions
EquiTool
Tool for assessing and determining
the equivalency of production and
processing standards
Tools for Solutions
EquiTool
Tool for determining the equivalency
of production and processing
standards
Consists of procedures and criteria
for 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
Recommendations (Cont.)
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
Recommendations (Cont.)
The International Requirements
for Organic Certification Bodies
(IROCB) serve as a benchmark
for recognizing certification bodies
and accepting organic product
certification
Recommendations (Cont.)
Governments and private
accreditation systems should take
initiatives to develop mutual
recognition agreements based on
the IROCB
Recommendations (Cont.)
Governments and private
accreditation systems should take
initiatives 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
Recommendations (Cont.)
The IROCB may serve as a basis
for direct accreditation when possible
Recommendations (Cont.)
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
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Farmers
Access to markets and increased
standard of living
Not having to get multiple
certifications to access markets
in various countries
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Traders
One tool for many different markets
would greatly simplify the process
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Traders
One tool for many different markets
would greatly simplify the process
Lower costs in both sourcing
and selling organic products
and ingredients
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Certifiers
Lower costs and increase direct
client services
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Certifiers
Lower costs and increase direct
client services
Streamline certification processes
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Certifiers
Lower costs and increase direct
client services
Streamline certification processes
Avoid having to get multiple
accreditations
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Governments:
Exporting Countries
Improve access of country’s organic
agricultural products to world
markets, bring opportunity for new
trading partners
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
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
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Governments:
Importing Countries
Greater availability of products
and improve our service to our
constituents
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Governments:
Importing Countries
Greater availability of products
and improve our service to our
constituents
Streamline process and increase
efficiency in regulating organic
imports
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Intergovernmental
Organizations
Increasing the global organic
marketplace improves the
environment and contributes
to alleviating world poverty
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Intergovernmental
Organizations
Increasing the global organic
marketplace improves the
environment and contributes
to alleviating world poverty
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Retailers
Greater selection of products
for consumers
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Retailers
Greater selection of products
for consumers
Support greater number of
developing countries who have
joined the organic marketplace
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Consumers
More availability and choices
of organic products
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Consumers
More availability and choices
of organic products
Support farmers in developing
countries
BENEFITS TO STAKEHOLDERS
Organic Consumers
More availability and choices
of organic products
Support farmers in developing
countries
For More Information
www.itf-organic.org