Frequently asked questions
This is done through the implementation of the following technical regulations:
| Technical Regulation | Description |
|---|---|
| Department Circular No. 1, s2018 - Revised Guidelines for the Official Accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB). | This Circular provides the rules and regulations for the accreditation of private groups and entities as organic certifying bodies providing inspection and certification services to farmers applying for third-party organic certification. Operators certified by the accredited OCB can label their products as organic. Philippine organic mark is given to certified organic operators by the accredited OCB. |
| Department Circular No. 3, s 2022 - Guidelines for the Accreditation of Core Participatory Guarantee System Groups (PGS) and its Operation as Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB |
This Circular covers applicants for accreditation and accredited core PGS groups providing certification services for organic crop production, animal production, aquaculture production, apiculture, processing of organic produce, special products, agricultural input production in accordance with the applicable current PNS for organic agriculture (Article V).
|
| Department Circular No. 2, s2022 - Guidelines for the Operations of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Groups as Organic Certifying Bodies (OCB) | This Circular aims to guide PGS groups as organic certifying bodies (OCBs) on the delivery of inspection and certification services to its farmer-members based on their manuals of operation and internal standards. Certified organic farmer-members through the accredited PGS-OCB can label their products as organic. Guaranteed Organic Mark is given to the certified farmer-member. |
| Department Circular No. 4, s2020 - Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Soil Amendment (OSA) Producers and Products | The DC covers the requirements and procedures for the following activities: 1. Application for Registration of OSA producers and products; 2. Application of organic input importation/exportation permit 3. Transfer of registration, 4. Suspension and/or Revocation of Registration; and 5. Labeling of registered OSA products. This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketing are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| Department Circular No. 5, s2020 - Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Bio-Control Agents (OBCA) Producers and Products; |
The DC covers the requirements and procedures for the following activities: 1. Application for Experimental Use Permit (EUP); 2. Application for Registration of OBCA producers and products; 3. Application of organic input importation/exportation permit 4. Transfer of registration, 5. Suspension and/or Revocation of Registration; and 6. Labeling of registered OBCA products.
This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketing are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| Department Circular No. 1, s2021 - Amending Relevant Provisions of DC No. 5, s2020 - Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Bio-Control Agents (OBCA) Producers and Products; |
The DC covers the following major requirements and procedures for the following activities: 1. Product efficacy trials for OBCA; 2. Publication of efficacy trial terminal reports;
This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketed are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| Department Circular No. 5, s2022 - Unified Set of Rules and Regulations for the Registration of Organic Producers, Produce, and Inputs |
Section 17 of Republic Act No. 11511 mandates the DA-BAFS, DA-BPI, DA-BAI, and DA-BFAR on the registration of organic producers, produce and inputs, to wit:
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BAFS monitors registered organic input producers and products, as well as integrated organic farms, at least once, within the validity of their Certificate of Registration. The following references are used to verify the continued compliance of registered organic operators:
| Technical Regulation | Description |
|---|---|
| Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 10068 as amended by Republic Act No. 11511 (Amendment to Organic Agriculture Act of 2010) |
This rules and regulations provides the registration and labeling requirements of organic producers, produce, and inputs with ‘organic’ claim.
The organic producers, produce, and inputs must be registered with the DA-BAFS per Sections 12 and 17. |
| Department Circular No. 01, Series of 2018 (Revised Guidelines for the Official Accreditation of Organic Certification Bodies) |
This Circular provides the rules and regulations for the accreditation of private groups and entities as organic certifying bodies providing inspection and certification services to farmers applying for third-party organic certification.
Operators certified by the accredited OCB can label their products as organic. Philippine organic mark is given to certified organic operators by the accredited OCB. |
| Department Circular No. 09, Series of 2020 (National List of Permitted Substances for Organic Agriculture) | This Circular provides the National List of Permitted Substances allowed for Organic Agriculture, including in the production of OSA and OBCA products. |
| Department Circular No. 1, s2021 - Amending Relevant Provisions of DC No. 5, s2020 - Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Bio-Control Agents (OBCA) Producers and Products; |
The DC covers the following major requirements and procedures for the following activities: 1. Product efficacy trials for OBCA; 2. Publication of efficacy trial terminal reports;
This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketed are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| Department Circular No. 04, Series of 2020 (Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Soil Amendment Producers and Products) |
The DC covers the requirements and procedures for the following activities; 1. Application for Registration of OSA producers and products; 2. Application of organic input importation/exportation permit 3. Transfer of registration, 4. Suspension and/or Revocation of Registration; and 5. Labeling of registered OSA products.
This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketed are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| Department Circular No. 05, Series of 2020 (Guidelines on the Registration of Organic Biocontrol Agent Producers and Products) |
The DC covers the requirements and procedures for the following activities: 1. Application for Experimental Use Permit (EUP); 2. Application for Registration of OBCA producers and products; 3. Application of organic input importation/exportation permit 4. Transfer of registration, 5. Suspension and/or Revocation of Registration; and 6. Labeling of registered OBCA products.
This is to ensure that the certified organic soil amendments (OSA) being marketed are compliant with the relevant Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture. |
| PNS/BAFS 337:2022 (Organic Crop Production, Postharvest, and Processing — Code of Practice) | This standard provides the minimum requirements for the organic crop production, Postharvest and Processing these includes wild harvest and mushroom |
| PNS/BAFS 07:2016 (Organic Agriculture) | This standard provides the minimum requirements for the organic animal production |
| PNS/BAFS 183:2020 (Organic Soil Amendments) | This standard provides the minimum requirements for the organic soil amendments (OSA) products. |
| PNS/BAFS 291:2019 (Code of practice for the production of organic soil amendments) | This standard provides the minimum requirements for the organic soil amendments (OSA) products.This also safeguards worker’s health, safety and welfare and minimize environmental hazards associated with the production of organic soil amendments |
| PNS/BAFS 182:2016 (Organic biocontrol agents – Microbials and botanicals - Minimum data requirements) | This standard provides the minimum requirements for the organic biocontrol agents microbials and botanicals (OBCA) products. |
- Article 6 of the Republic Act (RA) No. 7394 (Consumer Act of the Philippines) mandated the DA, Department of Health (DOH), and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to develop product quality and safety standards.
- RA No. 10611 (Food Safety Act of 2013) further delineated the mandates on the development of food standards between the DA and DOH.
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The specific agencies and scope of work on PNS development are as follows:
- DA-BAFS: primary and postharvest foods.
- DOH-Food and Drug Administration (FDA): pre-packaged and processed foods.
- DTI-Bureau of Philippine Standards (BPS): industrial and other consumer products not specified above
- BAFS is the sole standards development agency of the DA as mandated by relevant laws.
- As defined in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Technical Barrier to Trade (TBT) Agreement, standards are not mandatory; therefore, compliance is voluntary. Consonant to this, the PNS developed by BAFS are voluntary in nature.
- PNS are used as basis for technical regulations, conformity assessment procedures, and mutual recognition agreements, which make the requirements of the PNS mandatory. Further, PNS are also adopted and implemented through knowledge products such as explanatory brochures, training modules, webinars, among others.
- BAFS promotes the adoption of PNS by creating, using, and sharing knowledge and information and endorsing policy recommendations related to PNS
- The PNS are adopted and implemented by the DA Regulatory Agencies, Regional Field Offices (RFOs), and partner agencies through the following:
- Technical regulations; and
- Knowledge products and Learning and Development activities.
- The adoption of PNS to technical regulations is monitored annually
- As of August 2023, 121 out of 327 PNS are adopted into technical regulations.