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UNCTAD, UNEP and IFOAM Join Forces for Regional Organic Standards in East Africa |
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March 08, 2006
UNCTAD, UNEP and IFOAM Join Forces for Regional Organic Standards in East Africa |
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The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) announce a joint project to facilitate the development of an East African Organic Standard, which will help to make organic products from East Africa more recognizable on supermarkets shelves throughout the world. |
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This project pools together the expertise and experience of a wide
range of stakeholders at the national and regional levels, and builds
upon work that is already underway in the region, in particular through
the Export Promotion of Organic Products from Africa (EPOPA) project.
“IFOAM
is a strong supporter of the development of regional organic standards
to aid in the harmonization of trade in organic products. In the case
of East Africa, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are natural trading
partners, and this project, in addition to making international markets
more accessible, will strengthen trade in organic products between
these countries, which is an integral part of creating a sustainable
system,” explains IFOAM President Gerald A. Herrmann.
The
UNEP/UNCTAD Capacity Building Task Force on Trade, Environment and
Development (CBTF) project Promoting Production and Trading
Opportunities for Organic Agricultural Products in East Africa,
launched in Kampala on October 19, 2004, established a Regional
Standard Technical Working Group (RSTWG). Comprising representatives
from standards bodies, certification bodies and the organic sector from
the three countries, the RSTWG held its first meeting in Kampala on
October 24, 2004. It met again in Arusha on March 6 to discuss the
contents of the standard. The RSTWG will now be strengthened by IFOAM‘s
full-fledged support.
IFOAM is also launching the East African
Organic Standards (OSEA) project this week. OSEA will provide resources
to conduct national consultations and field-testing of the standard.
Once the standard has been approved, IFOAM will also support the
development of a joint inspection protocol and consumer education
campaign through the OSEA.
“IFOAM welcomes increased
collaboration with UNEP and UNCTAD. IFOAM has the knowledge base and
expertise from the organic sector, both internationally and
specifically in East Africa, to provide unparalleled leadership in the
promotion and development of organic standards. UNEP and UNCTAD, as
United Nations organizations, have access to both the human and
financial resources necessary to bring the key players together and to
lend broad credibility to an effort that will have direct
environmental, social and economic benefits for the people of East
Africa,” comments Angela B. Caudle, IFOAM Executive Director.
This
new partnership will be announced on the occasion of the CBTF Regional
Workshop for Organic Agriculture, March 7-10, 2006, in Arusha, Tanzania.
The
workshop will showcase the outcome of new research conducted under the
CBTF project on such topics as the status of organic agriculture and
related policies in East Africa (contributions from 17 authors in East
Africa and abroad); best practices; organic agriculture and food
security in Africa; and demand for organic products from East Africa.
The workshop also will focus on opportunities for regional cooperation.
The RSTWG will present the outcome of its work. On March 10,
participants will have the chance to view organic agriculture in
practice by visiting nearby organic farms.
Participants in the
workshop will include representatives from Ministries of trade,
environment and agriculture as well as standards bodies; the East
African Community; national organic agriculture networks, including
farmers and certifying bodies; research institutions and universities;
national and international organizations involved in organic
agriculture; and international experts.
All draft papers are available on the CBTF website at http://www.unep-unctad.org/cbtf/openArusha.htm.
It
is expected that the information and momentum generated through the
workshop will help to promote production and trade in organic
agriculture in East Africa. |
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