Organic Agriculture Program

Brief Description of the Program

The National Organic Agriculture Program is a collaborative documents spearheaded by the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) through the cooperation of the various stakeholders of the organic industry, relevant national government agencies, non government organizations, civil society and people’s organization.

Program and Services

Overall the NOAP aims to promote, propagate, further develop and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines towards a competitive and sustainable organic industry that contributes to:

Better Incomes and sustainable Livelihood. Increase farm productivity, reduced expenses on external farm inputs, better incomes for farmers and reduction of poverty in the rural sector; Improved Health. Protected health of the farmers, consumers and the public in general; Environmental Protection. Enhance soil fertility and farm biodiversity, reduce pollution and destruction of the environment as well as prevention of further depletion of natural resources; Disaster Risk Reduction and resilience to Climate Change. Improved resiliency to disaster risks and climate change vulnerabilities caused by human interventions and naturally induced hazards. Social Justice. Meeting the basic material needs and improving standard of living for all, upholding human rights, gender equality, labor standards and the right to self determination.

Operational and Policy Guidelines

Republic Act 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 Compilation of Implementation Guidelines.

Administrative Order No. 13 Series of 2003 Guidelines in the Accreditation of Certifying Bodies (CBs) for standards for Organic Agriculture.

WHEREAS, Section 15 of Republic Act No. 10068 or the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 designates and authorizes the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) to grant official accreditation to organic certifying body or entity;

WHEREAS, Section 15 of RA 10068 further mandates BAFPS to formulate the necessary rules and procedures for such accreditation;

WHEREAS, excerpt from the minutes of the 8th meeting of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB) that AO 13, Series of 2003 or the Guidelines in the accreditation of Certifying Bodies for Standards on Organic Agriculture shall be recognized as governing rules for the same purpose under Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 and shall be amended to include additional provisions.

Administrative Order No. 07 Series of 2011

Amendment to Administrative Order No. 13 Series of 2003 on the guidelines in the Accreditation of Certifying Bodies (CBs) for Standards for Organic Agriculture.

Sec. 60 and Sec. 63 Chapter 7 of RA. 8435 or the Agriculture and fisheries Modernization Act of 1997, specifically mandates the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAEPS) to formulate and enforce standards of quality and the processing, preservation, packaging, labelling, importation, exportation, distribution and advertising of agriculture and fisheries products.

Administrative Order No. 14 Series of 2011 Guidelines on the registration of Organic Food and Organic Input Procedures.

Pursuant to Section 16 Republic Act No. 10068 otherwise known as ’’Organic Agriculture Act of 2010’’ and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Product Standards (BAFPS) hereby issues for the following guidelines for the registration of organic food and organic input producers/establishments

Administrative Order No. 02 Series of 2012 Regulation of the Incentive Subsidy Scheme for Organic Certification.

Pursuant to Section 24 Republic Act No. 10068 otherwise known as ’’Organic Agriculture Act of 2010’’ and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, and with the aim of encouraging the farmers/ producers/processors comply with the standards for organic agriculture, the Department of Agriculture hereby issues the following guidelines for the granting of subsidy for organic certification. The granting of subsidy further aims to prevent fraud and to provide the consumers assured quality of organic products.

Administrative Order No. 04 Series of 2012 Guidelines in the Evaluation and Approval of Organic Agriculture Project proposals.

To ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the activities supporting the promotion, propagation, and development of Organic Agriculture in the Philippines pursuant to Organic Agriculture Act of 2010 (RA 10068) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) in line with National Organic Agriculture Program.

Administrative Order No. 10. Series of 2012 Guidelines for the Selection of Organic Demo and Training Farms.

Nationwide education and promotional campaign for the use and processing as well as the adoption of organic agricultural systems as a viable alternative is essential in achieving the over-all objective RA 10068 to promote, propagate, develop further and implement the practice of organic agriculture in the Philippines.

Similarly, the Organic Agriculture Act provides for establishing and strengthening national, provincial and community based learning centers to further highlight and showcase organic farming technologies and best practices that are consistent with the Philippines National Standards.

To facilitate the section and establishment of organic demo training farms, pacific guidelines for this concern shall be provided and implemented through the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with local government units, NGOs, Pos, private sector, SUCs and other learning institutions.

Administrative Order No. 11 Series of 2012 Implementing Rules and Regulations on the Accreditation of Private Organic Agriculture Extension Service Providers (OA ESPs)

Pursuant to the National Organic Agriculture At of 2010, otherwise known as Republic Act No. 10068, the Implementing Rules and Regulations are promulgated to govern the accreditation of private Organic Agriculture Extension Service Providers.

Memorandum Circular No. 02 Series of 2012 Guidelines for the Establishment of Organic Trading Post.

Organic Agriculture as defined in the Republic Act 10068 includes all Agricultural systems that promote the ecologically sound, socially acceptable, economically viable and technically feasible production of food and fibers covering areas such as but not limited to, soil fertility management, variety breeding and selection under chemical and pesticides enhancing productivity without destroying the soil and harming farmers, consumers and the environment.

The same act provided for the preparation of comprehensive program for the promotion of community-based organic fertilizers such as compost, pesticides and other farm inputs, together with a nationwide educational and promotional campaign for the use and processing as well as the adoption of organic agriculture system as a viable alternative.