Situation and Subject on the Legislation of a Standard and Certification of Organic Products(Globalization of Organic Product Markets and the Legislation of a Standard and Certification of Organic Products,Reports of 1998 Fall Symposium)

Abstract

Now we have a stage at which a discussion about a standard and a certification of organic products has almost finished in both the international area and the domestic area. In the former, The Sectional Meeting of Food Indication in The Codex Committee which was held in Ottawa in May 1998 had an agreement with Step 8, except for stockbreeding, about a global standard guideline on a standard, a certification, and an indication of organic products. And in Japan it is expected that a law which, for the most part, is based on an international standard will be passed in the Diet in 1999. This article makes clear the recent situation on a standard, a certification, and an indication of organic products, along with pointing out the next five as the remaining points at issue. 1. need of initiative of the farmers' sector on a standard, a certification, and an indication of organic products. 2. product standard and standardization of indication on sustainable agricultural products which have a greatly reduced input of agricultural chemicals and chemical fertilizer. 3. establishment of a self-responsibility system of farmers which is a premise for an outsiderinspection. 4. farmers' associations taking a part in a process of the standardization, a certification, and the indication of organic products. 5. making a system whereby the market and consumers can provide input and support for the development and growth of organic agriculture.