Standards and Certification
The Organic Guarantee System
The organic guarantee system is a way by which consumers are assured that they obtain organically produced foods. Broadly, there are two ways of assurance. One way is the producer’s personal guarantee (no need for a certification program). The other way is thorugh a third party certification, a system by which conformity to applicable standards is determined and confirmed by a third party or an independent body.
Historical Profile of Organic Certification in the Philippines
The Organic Certification Process in the Philippines
Organic Agriculture Standards
- The Philippine National Standards for Organic Agriculture
- OCCP Standards for Organic Agriculture and Processing
- Codex Alimentarius (Food and Agriculture Organization)
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Producer’s guarantee - The producer (farmer, processor, or operator) gives the assurance to the consumers. This is applicable where the producer’s integrity is widely known to the consumers who usually live within the same locality as the producer. The producer’s guarantee is also sufficient when there is mutual understanding between producers and consumers such as in various versions of producer-consumer partnerships. There may be no popular term used for it but such patronage is a common practice in small towns and villages across Asia.
Third party certification - When the producer is unknown, certification is done by an independent body or a third party. The production system, the process or method instead of a product, is certified as organic. Thus, the “organic” quality is not verifiable by product testing although in some cases product testing can be used to detect non-compliance. The major activities in a certification program are: standards setting, inspection, and certification.
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Philippine
Organic Agriculture Information Network
Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research
and Development (PCARRD)
©2006