BioFach China - the Only Truly Organic Exhibition in China

China’s organic sector has been going through great changes since 2012 when the new organic regulations came into force. For European and other international organic producers and traders who are interested in this potentially big market, a good way to get an understanding of the Chinese organic market is to come, either as exhibitors or trade visitors, to the professionally organised BioFach China. This sister exhibition of BioFach Nuremburg is currently the only truly organic exhibition in China, and this means that BioFach China is practically a ‘gateway to the Chinese organic market’. (Picture: BioFach China will be held in Shanghai INTEX on 23-25 May)
Last year, the three-day exhibition attracted 15,963 trade visitors, while in 2011 this figure was 14,613. According to BioFach China, more than 300 exhibitors and 16,000 visitors are expected this year. Many domestic organic producers will be present during the three-day fair, which will be held for the seventh time on the 23-25 May this year at the INTEX Exhibition Centre in Shanghai. During the exhibition, you can meet Chinese organic counterparts to ask questions about their products and businesses and also see what is on offer and what is missing or needed in the market. It is a great opportunity for networking and you will also be able to have a taste of the food culture, which is also important for entering the market.
During the exhibition, some seminars will be organised to talk about certification issues, the market, and broad topics related to organics, and many certifiers will be attending the exhibition. This year, a comprehensive organic tour will be organised for foreign exhibitors and trade visitors, which will bring together participants and organic stakeholders in China. The tour will take place in Shanghai and Beijing, currently the two biggest organic markets in China. (Picture: The program includes a visit by buyers to both organic farms and traders)

China has had three different labels regarding food production and they have often been confusing, i.e. hazard-free food, green food and organic food. All inputs that are not permitted in organic food production are permitted in green food and hazard-free food production, although their applications are restricted to different levels. The green food label signifies an integrated crop management system and its standard is higher than the hazard-free label, which focuses on basic food safety. Genetically modified organisms are permitted in food production under both these labels. BioFach China has been China’s exclusively organic exhibition, since all exhibitors’ organic certificates are checked and neither green nor hazard-free labelled food products are admitted. Therefore, in comparison with all the other exhibitions in China that claim to be organic, it is the only 100 % organic exhibition. (Picture: The BioFach China is a showcase for organic products)

As the strict new organic rules have forced out many organic producers in China, and China itself does not have many processed organic products (based on the food culture), processed organic food products have great potential in the Chinese organic market. No particular efforts are needed to market them since they are known to Chinese consumers. These organic products include baby formula, baby food, extra virgin olive oil, certain organic spices/dried herbs, herbal teas, biscuits/cookies, sugars, jams, vinegars, beers/wines, dried yeasts, butter, chocolate and chocolate spread. China has to import organic products like these before they and other processed organics can be manufactured either by joint ventures or local producers in order to reduce the environmental impacts of imports. (Picture: Products that are not yet produced in China are in demand)

As there is not yet an organic equivalency agreement between the EU and China, all organic products imported into China need to be certified by a Chinese organic certifier. They can then carry the organic label, otherwise they will have to be sold as conventional products. If a product has a short value chain, it is technically not complicated to have it certified. For instance, if a baby food producer gets all raw materials from its own farms and has its own production, it will be quite straightforward to have its products certified by a Chinese organic certifier, and it will then carry the organic label in both English and Chinese. The well known certifying bodies are OFDC and COFCC. Currently the German company Töpfer and the Italian Alce Nero have obtained the Chinese organic certificates for their products sold in the Chinese organic market. (Picture: All imported products must be labelled by a Chinese certifying body)


More information and updates about the exhibition and the organic tour, which will be organised by BioFach China, can be found on the BioFach China website.