Asia Regional Organic Standards Advance to Second Draft

The AROS Drafting Group meets in Vientiane, Laos on 28 -29 June

The Asia Regional Organic Standard (AROS) is being developed primarily to create a reference for equivalence of the government standards in the region comprising South, South-East, and East Asia. It will also be a reference for further development and harmonization of standards in the Region.  This is part of an overall approach to building a framework for cooperation on organic labeling and trade in the Region.  The scope of this standard is presently crops, wild production processing and labelling, which is appropriate for most of the current trade and trade opportunities in the Region.

The Drafting Group for the Asia Regional Organic Standard (AROS) advanced the document to a second draft during its meeting in Vientiane, Laos, in late June.  Hosted by the Laos Ministry of Agriculture, the group made some key decisions on the draft after reviewing comments on the first draft.

- Conversion period:  It was decided that the conversion period for this region should be 12 months for annuals and 18 months for perennials.  Although conversion periods are typically longer in temperate climates, the region covered by this standard is primarily tropical and subtropical, so chemicals break down faster than in temperate regions. It was also concluded that the new conversion periods provide a time period sufficient for the organic system to become established without penalizing the farmer financially.

- Seeds and planting materials:  Flexibility is built in for use of non-organic seed in case organic and non-treated seed are unavailable.  It was recognized that although there is aspiration to use organic seed, markets for such are not yet well developed in this region.  Flexibility was also built into the language to accommodate restricted use of treated seeds in cases where there are requirements for such or in regions where alternatives are not available.

- Hydroponic production:  Discussion revealed that there is a difference in certification practices and opinion concerning hydroponic production which otherwise meets the requirements of the lists of substances for use in organic production.  The draft language prohibiting this type of production was left intact for now, subject to further commenting.

- Use of human excrement as fertility amendments:  The first draft prohibited use on any crops for human consumption, but after discussing the issue again, the group changed the language to permit highly restricted use which excludes application on any leafy, tuber or root crops, plus measures to control pathogens.

- Lists of inputs:  The indicative lists of inputs for organic production were modified to include plant-derived substances typical in the Region.

Comment Period for Second Draft

A comment period from 1 August to 30 September has been set for the second draft.  Comment processes will be initiated by Working and Drafting group members in their home countries.  In addition, a workshop on the Asia Regional Organic Standards will take place at the IFOAM Organic World Congress, Korea on 30 September from 14:30 to 16:00 at the venue “2^nd City Hall of Namyangju.” A subsequent feedback period on the Standard will be provided after this workshop before the final Standard is completed.

Organic Agriculture in Laos

After the meeting, AROS Drafting Group members visited the Ban Phunphao Organic Vegetable project, which consists of production by 19 farming families to supplement their main activity of rice production.  Most of the production is done under cover, which means that it can continue during the rainy season, and provide substantial supplemental income to these families, who sell their vegetables at the local market in Vientiane.  Women in the families are empowered to manage the marketing of the vegetables.