AN ACT AMENDING REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10068 OR THE ORGANIC AGRICULTURE ACT OF 2010

Case Overview and Summary

Summary of Republic Act No. 11511 Amending the Organic Agriculture Act of 2010

Objectives and Policies
• Promotes and implements organic agriculture practices to enrich soil fertility, increase farm productivity and income, reduce pollution, protect health, and promote food self-sufficiency. (Section 1)
• Establishes a comprehensive program for organic agriculture systems, including farmer-produced inputs and a nationwide educational campaign. (Section 1)
• Undertakes a nationwide educational campaign on the benefits of consuming organic products. (Section 1)

Definitions
• Defines key terms related to organic production systems, certification, accreditation, inspection, organic inputs, participatory guarantee system (PGS), small farmers/fisherfolk, and organic value chain. (Section 2)

Coverage
• Applies to the development and promotion of organic agriculture. (Section 3)
• Includes the promotion of facilities for organic inputs, implementation of organic agriculture programs and projects, and provision of support services for farmers, prioritizing small farmers/fisherfolk. (Section 3)

National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB)
• Composition includes representatives from government agencies, small farmers, NGOs, agricultural colleges/universities, private sector, PGS groups, LGUs, and indigenous organic farmers. (Section 4)
• Responsible for organizing, prescribing rules and procedures, and meeting at least quarterly. (Section 5)

National Organic Agriculture Program-National Program Coordinating Office (NOAP-NPCO)
• Established within the Department of Agriculture to manage the effective implementation of the National Organic Agriculture Program. (Section 6)
• Serves as the planning and administrative secretariat of the NOAB and the coordinating office of the Program. (Section 6)

Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS)
• Restructured and empowered to support the objectives of the Act. (Section 8)
• Responsible for formulating standards, issuing accreditation to organic certifying bodies (OCBs), conducting inspections, issuing registration of organic inputs and farms, ruling on appeals, and performing other necessary functions. (Section 8)

Accreditation of OCBs
• BAFS is authorized to grant accreditation to OCBs performing third-party certification or PGS certification. (Section 9)
• At least one accredited OCB for third-party certification in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, or one OCB with satellite offices in these regions. (Section 9)

Participatory Guarantee System (PGS)
• Serves as the mechanism for certifying small farmers/fisherfolk and their farms/associations/cooperatives as engaged in organic agriculture. (Section 10)
• Core PGS groups must have at least five members from different farms and be accredited by BAFS. (Section 10)
• Municipal/city PGS groups composed of representatives from core PGS groups and agricultural institutions. (Section 10)
• Provincial and national PGS groups can be formed optionally. (Section 10)
• NOAB to actively promote and recognize PGS groups practicing organic agriculture. (Section 10)
• Agricultural Training Institute to provide training on organic standards and processes for PGS groups. (Section 10)
• Incentives for small farmers/fisherfolk or organic input producers certified for five years, including government subsidy for international certification and prime location in trade events. (Section 10)

Registration and Labeling
• BAFS responsible for registering integrated organic farms and organic inputs like soil amendments and bio-control agents. (Section 13)
• Other DA bureaus responsible for registering organic seeds, livestock, aquaculture, and feeds. (Section 13)
• FDA responsible for registering organic processed food. (Section 13)
• Organic produce labels must contain the OCB's name, logo/seal, accreditation number, trade name, and address of origin. (Section 14)

Market Development and Trade Promotion
• DA to develop and implement market development and trade promotion programs for organic agriculture. (Section 16)
• Includes developing a marketing agenda, establishing organic trading posts/stalls, developing a market information system, promoting organic products, and facilitating market matching activities. (Section 16)

Appropriations
• One billion pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) annually allocated for the National Organic Agriculture Program, with specific percentages for shared facilities, seeds/planting materials, extension and training, socialized credit, irrigation, research and development, and marketing and promotion. (Section 18)

Penal Provisions and Penalties
• Penalties for willfully and deliberately mislabeling or falsely claiming a product as organic, including imprisonment, fines, and dismissal from government service. (Section 19)
• Penalties for OCBs found to have issued certification to non-compliant farms or producers, including written warning and suspension of accreditation. (Section 19)

Implementing Rules and Regulations
• NOAB to adopt implementing rules and regulations within 90 days from the effectivity of the Act, in consultation with the Department of Finance for tax incentives. (Section 20)