Organic Agriculture Division

DIV_PIC
The Organic Agriculture Division is responsible for the accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies (OCBs); conduct of inspections on compliance of PGS Groups with Philippine National Standards on Organic Agriculture; registration of organic inputs, such as organic soil amendments and organic bio-control agents; registration of integrated organic farms with multiple commodities/production and of organic input producers; and rule on the appeal of farm/farm owner on decisions made by organic certifying bodies and the concerned municipal/city PGS Groups on inspection and certification issues.

The Organic Agriculture Division is also responsible for the monitoring of registered organic inputs producers and products, and integrated organic farms; and enforcement of “organic” labeling requirements of agricultural and fishery products.
DIV_PIC

Accreditation and Certification

  • Accreditation of Third-party OCBs. The function includes the assessment and formal recognition of the competence of a third-party OCB to provide inspection and certification services; and responsible for the international harmonization of organic agriculture certification and accreditation of third-party OCBs.

  • Accreditation of Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) Groups. The function includes the inspection and certification of at least five (5) organic farmers in every PGS Group; accreditation (assessment and formal recognition of the competence) of a PGS Group; and ruling on the appeal of farm/farm owner on decisions made by organic certifying bodies and the concerned farm/farm owner.

  • Registration and Evaluation of Integrated Organic Farms. The function includes the evaluation of technical documentary requirements; and updating and maintenance of registered integrated organic farms.

  • Registration and Evaluation of Organic Soil Amendment (OSA) Producers and Products. The function includes the evaluation of technical documentary requirements; issuance of importation/ exportation permits; and updating and maintenance of registered OSA producers and products.

  • Registration and Evaluation of Organic Biological Control Agents (OBCA) Producers and Products. The function includes the evaluation of technical documentary requirements and product efficacy trial protocols; issuance of experimental use permits and importation/ exportation permits; conduct of field compliance assessment of on-going efficacy trials; certification of OBCA Researchers; and updating and maintenance of registered OBCA producers and products.

  • Monitoring of Registered Organic Integrated Farms and Organic Inputs. The function includes the monitoring of registered organic integrated farms, and organic inputs. The monitoring of registered organic inputs covers the OSA and OBCA products and the facilities. Moreover, the function entails the conduct of capability activities for OA Monitoring and Labeling Enforcement Team; and the collection of samples for laboratory analysis.

  • Enforcement of Organic Labeling Requirements. The function includes the enforcement of “organic” labeling requirements on agricultural and fishery products in the market, information dissemination on the Philippine Organic Mark, publication of approved guidelines, and stakeholders’ orientation on organic technical regulations.

  • Secretariat of Complaints and Appeals Committee. The function includes handling complaints and ruling on the appeal of farm/farm owner on decisions made by organic certifying bodies and the concerned municipal/ city PGS Groups on inspection and certification issues through an independent complaints and appeals committee as per approved guidelines.
  • Accreditation of Organic Certifying Bodies and PGS groups
  • Application for Registration of:
    • Establisment of Primary and Proharvest Organic Food and non-Food Products
    • Organic Bio-control Agent (OBCA) Producers and Products
    • Organic Soil Amendments (OSA) Producers and Products
  • Application for:
    • Experimental Use Permit (EUP-OBCA)
    • Organic Input Importation or Exportation Permit