From June 10-12, 2024, in Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, represented by Mr. Mark Matubang and Mr. Vicente Limsan Jr from the Department of Agriculture - Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (DA-BAFS), actively participated in the back-to-back 5th Intersessional and 8th Experts Working Group on Organic Agriculture (EWG-OA) Meetings.
During the 5th Intersessional Meeting, delegates finalized the technical aspects of the Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) for Organic Agricultural Products, marking a significant step towards harmonizing organic standards across ASEAN.
In the 8th EWG-OA Meeting, participants assessed the alignment of national standards with ASEAN Standards for Organic Agriculture (ASOA). The Philippines presented updates on its revised organic standards and emphasized capacity-building initiatives, including the recent revision of the Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture and its alignment with ASOA.
Mr. Matubang and Mr. Limsan contributed to discussions on mutual recognition and the harmonization of certification systems. The meetings highlighted significant progress in aligning national standards and fostering regional cooperation for organic agricultural products, reinforcing the Philippines' commitment to advancing sustainable and organic farming practices within the ASEAN region.