TOS 131, MARCH 2012 - the full article is available for logged in subscribers.

After a long and cumbersome process the EU has finally taken a decision on standards for organic wine. On 8 March the new wines rules were published in the EU Official Journal under the name of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 203/2012.

The main issues for discussion have been the sulphur content allowed in organic wine. In the end these levels were set at 100 mg per litre for red wine (150 mg/l for conventional) and 150 mg/l for white/rosé (200 mg/l for conventional), where the residual sugar is lower that 2g/litre.

The new legislation applies to all winemaking taking place after 31 July 2012. Wine produced before that date can be sold with the organic EU-logo if it can be proved that the production process fulfilled the requirements for wine processing in the new legislation. If it cannot be proved that the winemaking process fulfils the requirements of the new legislation, wine produced before 31 July can be sold as ‘wine made from organic grapes’ until stocks are exhausted, but it cannot bear the EU-logo.

Eva Mattsson

TOS 130, FEBRUARY 2012 - the full article is available for logged in subscribers.

The ninth edition of The Organic Certification Directory was published in February 2012. The Directory lists all the organic certification bodies in the world and is distributed free.

Comparing with last year data, the Directory reports that there has been modest growth in the number of certification bodies in most regions of the world, though the number has increased rapidly in some Asian countries, mainly in India. Many of the new certifiers are branch offices to international certification bodies who gained approval by, for instance, the EU or a local government. The global total is now 549, up from 532 in 2010. Most certification bodies are located in the EU, Japan, the United States, South Korea, China, Canada, India and Brazil. Eighty-five countries have a domestic certification body

Kolbjörn Örjavik

News from TOS 129, JANUARY 2012 - the full article is available for logged in subscribers.

Hua Parakore is the Maori organic certification system from Aotearoa (the Maori name for New Zealand. Hua Parakore refers to a ‘pure product’ that has been produced according to the principles and practices of Maori traditions. Te Waka Kai Ora is the national, farmer-led organisation that is the mandated custodian of the Hua Parakore on behalf of Maori communities throughout the country.

Hua Pararoke products are sold as organic in the New Zealand and Australian market.

Gunnar Rundgren

News from TOS 129, JANUARY 2012 - the full article is available for logged in subscribers.

This article offers an overview on how the legislation on organic production and control is implemented in the different Latin America countries.

The conclusion is just passing a law is not enough. It is very important to also develop an organic agricultural policy that includes technical rules, educational programmes, financial funds, and rural advisory programmes. In addition, it is essential to have the public and private institutional capacity to implement the law. And finally, laws on paper provide no comprehensive benefit to organic agriculture, unless they are applied as a standard technique.

Carlos Escobar