|
|
 |
The International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture (ITF) |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
The organic market is confronted with hundreds of private sector
standards and governmental regulations, two international standards for
organic agriculture (Codex Alimentarius and IFOAM) and a host of
conformity assessment and accreditation systems. Mutual recognition and
equivalency among these systems is extremely limited. The
multitude of certification requirements and regulations are considered
to be a major obstacle for a continuous and rapid development of the
organic sector, especially for producers in developing countries.
In 2001, IFOAM, FAO and UNCTAD decided to join forces to search for
solutions to this problem. Together they organized the Conference
on International Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture,
in Nuremberg, Germany 18-19 February, 2002. One of the key recommendations of the
Conference was that a multi-stakeholder task force should be
established in order to elaborate practical proposals and
solutions.
Following up on this proposal IFOAM, UNCTAD and FAO in 2003 formed the International Task Force on Harmonization (ITF). The task force consists of
representatives of governments, intergovernmental
agencies, and key stakeholders from the private sector. The ITF serves as
an open-ended platform for dialogue between private and public
institutions involved in trade and regulatory activities in the organic
agriculture sector. The objective is to facilitate international
organic trade and access of developing countries to international
organic markets.
IFOAM, UNCTAD and FAO serve on the Steering Committee of the ITF.
The IFOAM Organic Guarantee System staff provides the secretariat
services for the Task Force and Steering Committee.
For further information please visit the ITF Homepage.
For further information please also download the UNCTAD Trade and Environment Review 2006, which to a large degree deals with Organic Agriculture.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
