COA announces mutual recognition pacts on organic items with Australia...

2020/08/19

Mutual recognition agreements on organic products were announced Aug. 14 by Taiwan’s Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture with the relevant agencies of Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S.
 
 The pacts clear the way for certified items from Taiwan to be exported to and sold in the five countries, the COA said. This will save on verification costs while enhancing the market competitiveness and popularity of Taiwan’s organic products, the council added.
 
 According to the COA, the country’s first shipment of items covered by the agreements is destined for Japan.
 
 The COA said the pacts are to be complemented by promotion plans aimed at assisting local exporters fully capitalize on a raft of market opportunities under the pacts. The Agricultural Technology Research Institute, headquartered in northern Taiwan’s Hsinchu City, is taking the lead in this regard, the council added.
 
 As part of government efforts to expand the output of organic products in Taiwan, the COA is encouraging farmers to increase the amount of land dedicated to cultivation. As of July, the total stands at 10,328 hectares, a figure realized in part due to the effectiveness of 2019’s Organic Agriculture Promotion Act.
 
 This number rises to 14,918 hectares when eco-friendly land is taken into account, representing 120 percent growth from 2016. By year-end 1.9 percent of farming land in Taiwan will be officially classified as eco-friendly and organic, the COA said, adding that this makes the country one of the leaders in the Asia-Pacific.

Source: Taiwan Today (https://taiwantoday.tw/index.php)