IFOAM, UNCTAD and FAO Launch Tools

The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture (ITF) has launched two practical tools to facilitate the trade flow of organic products worldwide. Led for six years by a partnership of IFOAM, UNCTAD and FAO, the ITF sought solutions for barriers to trade in the organic sector due to a multitude of organic standards, government technical regulations and certification performance requirements that now characterize the sector.  Governments and private certification and accreditation bodies can now depend on one set of instruments for assessing the equivalence of standards, technical regulations and certification requirements. Equivalence will ease trade barriers and foster organic market development worldwide.
 

EquiTool, which facilitates the equivalence of standards for organic production and processing, includes assessment criteria and emphasizes reference to the international standards of IFOAM and Codex. IROCB (International Standards for Organic Certification Bodies) will enable the recognition of organic certification bodies worldwide.  Based on ISO 65 (General Requirements for Bodies Operating Product Certification Systems), IROCB also includes performance requirements specific to organic certification.
 

The ITF Tools were launched by IFOAM Vice President Urs Niggli, UNCTAD Director General Supachai Panitchpakdi and FAO Assistant Director General Alexander Mueller at a public session following the 8 th ITF meeting.
 

www.ifoam.org