REGIONAL PROJECTS

CENTRAL AMERICA

UPDATE   2 August 2012

The CAC Ministers have approved the text of the harmonized regulation.  The document is now being notified to the WTO for member comments.

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UPDATE  2 AUGUST 2010

Click Here to view the Central American Competent Authorities’  Announcements  on the Consultations (in Spanish).

Click Here to view the Draft Standard (in Spanish).

Click Here to view the  process for the completion of the Central American Standard (in English).

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UPDATE – JULY 2010 COMMENT PROCESS ON FIRST DRAFT OF CENTRAL AMERICAN STANDARDS IS IN PROGRESS

Competent Authorities of the  five Central American countries – Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have released the first draft of the Regional Organic Standards for Central America and the Dominican Republic, and invited comments.  Panama and the Dominican Republic, which are also participating in the regional standard, are expected to invite comments in their countries also.  Each country specifies its own comment period and process,  so timelines and instructions for commenting will vary from country to country.  Stakeholders in these countries who wish to have assistance to obtain the draft and information about commenting, contact GOMA’s Latin American Coordinator, Patricia Flores, patriciafloresescudero@gmail.com.

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GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE CENTRAL AMERICAN PROJECT

In cooperation with

All five Central American countries (Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Panama) plus Panama and the Dominican Republic are developing a harmonized regional organic standard with the support of GOMA and facilitation by the Instituto Interamericano de Cooperación Agricultura (IICA).  GOMA is providing €35,000 financial support and technical support to the project.  IICA will manage the project operations e.g. meeting facilitation, accounting and communications.

The standards development project was initiated from dialogue between the countries starting in 2004 about how to gain recognition in main importing markets.   In 2007, Autoridades Competentes en Agricultura Orgánica – (ACAO) was created and has supported the regional standards development.  The aim of the project is to foster cooperation, efficiency and harmonization in the region and also place these countries in a more favorable position to develop equivalence with major importing countries, especially the US and European Union.

Project Activities and Timeline

Dates	Activities
May 2010	Meeting of ACAO in Panama to complete first draft standard
July- September 2010	Consultation with stakeholders in participating countries
October 2010	Meeting of ACAO and private sector Observers in Costa Rica to respond to comments and prepare final standards
November 2010 Jan 2011	Notification to WTO and International Consultation

Contact

Patricia Flores
GOMA Latin America Coordinator
patriciafloresescudero@gmail.com