REQUIREMENTS TO EXPORT ORGANIC PRODUCTS TO AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN MARKETS

“Organic” products are those that have been certified as produced with clearly defined organic production methods. It refers to the production process rather than the product itself.

One of the essential elements that distinguish organic agriculture from other forms of sustainable agriculture is the existence of production standards and certification procedures. Many countries have defined their organic standards; for example, Canada, the United States, and Japan have passed organic standards and regulations.

The FAO / WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission Food Labeling Committee approved in 1999 “guidelines for the production, processing, labeling and marketing of organically produced foods”.

Organic certification is a procedure by which it is verified that the production process conforms to certain standards. In other words, certification is primarily the recognition that these products are produced by organic production standards. Once certified, organic products are marketed, usually carrying a certification label, indicating that the products are certified organic.

 

Import requirements of the main markets

USA

Beginning in October 2002, all fruits and vegetables labeled or shipped organic will require certification from an approved certifier based on the United States National Organic Standards (NOS). For exporters who want to export to the market in that country, there are some important factors for the application of the standards. Beginning in October 2002, the USDA organic seal will allow organic products to be marketed in the United States.

Certification Organism in the United States operating in foreign countries can apply for USDA accreditation. Foreign applicants will be evaluated based on the same criteria applied by internal certification organism. Instead of USDA accreditation, a foreign certification organism can:

  • Receive recognition when USDA has determined, at the request of a foreign government, that the government of the foreign certification organism is in a position to evaluate and certify that certification organism meet the requirements of national organic standards;
  • Receive recognition that you meet US-equivalent requirements under an equivalency agreement negotiated between the United States and the foreign government.

 

For more information on USDA certification, review this information: https://www.fao.org/3/Y1669s/y1669s0g.htm#bm16

 

Japan

The new Japanese Agricultural Standards (JAS) law for product labeling, formulated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) has entered into force as of April 1, 2001. The promulgated JAS law is based on the Code guidelines for organic agriculture. Under the new law, all products labeled organic must be certified by a registered certification organization (OCR) and display the JAS logo as well as the name of the OCR. Under the new legislation, OCRs must be accredited to the MAFF. Since the new legislation began to apply, 38 organizations have registered as OCRs. Although foreign certifiers may be registered, at the time of writing all OCRs were Japanese.

For more information on certifications in Japan, review this information: https://www.fao.org/3/Y1669s/y1669s0b.htm#bm11

 

European Community (CE)

In the EC, Regulation 2092/91 determines the minimum requirements for organic agriculture in all member states and is a directly applicable law. It contains standards for the production, processing, importation, inspection, and certification, marketing, and labeling of organic products. Organic food products from non-EC countries can be imported and marketed in the EC with an organic label if it is accepted that the products have been produced and certified according to procedures equivalent to those of the EC.

There are two options to obtain authorization to export organic products to the EC:

  • When a third country has established and applied organic standards, it can apply to the European Commission to be included on the EC Article 11 list, known as the Article 11 list. Countries on that list can export certified products to the EC. by an approved internal certification organism, without the need for further certification or accreditation.
  • If the exporting country is not listed in Article 11, you should ask the importer from the EC country to apply for a particular permit to import. A specific EC member state may authorize an importer to import products from a country that is not listed in Article 11. By this provision, the importer must apply to the designated authorities in the EC member country for an import permit, and the application must be accompanied by documentation on the equivalence of the standards and control measures. The producer and exporter will need to be certified by EC procedures, which should be done in cooperation with an accredited certification organism.
  • Import permits are issued for a certain number of specific products from specified countries and are valid for defined periods. They are granted to certain importers and are valid only for importing into the country of those importers. Once imported into an EC member country, products can be freely traded within the EC. In practice, the length of the process to obtain an import permit can vary considerably.

 

REFERENCES

(n.d.). CAPITULO 1: REQUISITOS PARA PRODUCIR Y EXPORTAR PRODUCTOS ORGÁNICOS A LOS PRINCIPALES MERCADOS. Retrieved November 24, 2021, from https://www.fao.org/3/Y1669s/y1669s04.htm