PGS

PGS are quality assurance initiatives that are locally relevant, emphasize the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers and operate outside the frame of third party certification. Since 2005, IFOAM took a leading role in promoting and facilitating the growing global PGS movement. An international informal working group on PGS had been set-up in 2004, following the International Workshop on Alternative Certification that took place in Brazil. Later on, this working group became an official IFOAM Task Force, ensuring experts’ input in IFOAM’s work to promote Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS). Thanks to the inputs from the Task Force, a guidance manual on how to set-up PGS is available, in addition to the PGS 4 case studies that had already been published in 2006. IFOAM also commissioned a study on the official recognition of PGS. Some work was done to assist emerging PGS in East Africa, with a workshop organized in the region and a study on the same topic. The IFOAM website PGS section is being enriched with answers to the Frequently Asked Questions on PGS and with an interactive PGS self-evaluation and information exchange platform. Decision was also taken to include PGS in the IFOAM Organic Guarantee System, although the nature of this inclusion remains to be determined. The PGS session at the OWC will be the occasion for participants to learn about these developments and exchange experiences and ideas related to these issues. The session is open to all interested persons.