Appreciating organic certification

By Frank A. Hilario

“Why do you need the certification of the Organic Certification Center of the Philippines (OCCP) to become an organic farmer?”

The OCCP is a non-stock, non-profit, non-government organization, but is nationally recognized. It has 19 member NGOs and individuals.

The OCCP claims in its webpage that “it is a standard-setting and certification body.” If there is no official certification of the status of a certain farmer, group, or product, anybody can claim that the farm produce is organic, and nobody can question that claim. There are 3 kinds of certifications made by the OCCP (the image is from the website, occpphils.org):

(1) Certified Organic – “The full standard requirement have been met. Products may be sold as Produce of Organic Agriculture.

(2) Made With Organic Ingredients – More than 70% of the ingredients are of certified organic origin.

(3) Organic In Transition – The farm is in the process of converting to organic and meets the requirements.

Among other things, “Certified Organic” means the farm is using certified organic farming methods.

Commonly applied products for certification are (alphabetically arranged): banana, banana chips, coconut, fresh fruits, garlic, lemongrass, malunggay, rice, vegetables (salad and pakbet), vinegar, virgin coconut oil, and wild collection of herbal crops.

Commonly applied agricultural inputs for certification are organic fertilizer, and organic vermicompost.

You can apply for organic goat, organic pig, and organic poultry.

The OCCP conducts research and trainings on standards and certification, and organic agriculture technologies.

OCCP member NGOs and individuals

1. Bukidnon Organic Products Corporation, Cagayan de Oro City

2. Davao Provinces Rural Development Institute, Cagayan de Oro City

3. GREENMINDS Inc, Cagayan de Oro City

4. Kaanib Foundation Inc, Bukidnon METSA, Davao City

6. Sustainable Agriculture Center, Davao City

7. Alter Trade, Bacolod City

8. BIND, Bacolod City

9. MAPISAN, Kabankalan City