To conduct the training ACT invited an experienced organic inspector from ICEA, Italy, i.e. Ms. Samantha Roselle-Bierre. She has been working for ICEA for the last five years and has a Master Degree in organic agriculture.

Ms. Samantha started the training with comparisons between the NOP and EU2092/91 regulations. She explained that the basic rule is the inspector should always apply the restricter requirements whenever an operator is applying for certifications of each different regulation.

Ms. Samantha updated the participant of the trainig that several changes might be made to the NOP requirements to allow grower group certification starting early 2008. Currently the NOP regulation technically does not allow grower group certification in its system which means the NOP accredited certification body (CBs) should be inspecting growers registered in a grower group[1]. EU2092/91 has been revised mid-2007 but the revision will be only take effect in January 2009. The new revision is known as EU837/07. For the purpose of the training Ms. Samantha is only focusing on EU2092/91 as it is still applicable until the date mentioned above. There is no revision made to JAS in 2007.[2]

Apart from focusing on the regulation itself the participants were also exposed to ICEA forms for organic certification application and inspection based the different regulations. Each form used by ICEA must completely cover different aspects of each regulations. This is to ensure that the operators are completely complying to each regualation that they are applying for. There are at least thirteen ACT inspectors attended the training with one foreign inspector from Malaysia. The traning will be conducted every year as it is the NOP requirement for each inspector to receive training at least once in a year. Failing to attend the year's training session the inspector cannot be assigned any NOP inspection job.

Prepared by
Jumat Majid

Note:
[1] Some grower groups could reach tens of thousands of registered members, IFOAM generally allow an internal control system (ICS) to be setup and the CBs to do a sample inspection based on risk assessment and other criteria.

[2] EU2092/91 is recognised as equivalent to the JAS Organic by Japan government, this means products certified with EU2092/91 is permitted to be imported to Japan with minimum requirements.

16 of 20 Good Reasons To Buy Organic 

Reduce unwanted interference by many pesticides with our sex hormones. This
in turn should reduce the prevalence of erectile dysfunction, the number of people suffering
from loss of sexual drive and a host of estrogen-related health problems (EXTOXNET).

Source: BFA