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Country Content Sections/Tabs

Country Content Sections/Tabs

Policy Information

Policy Information

Government Agency(s) / Competent Authority

Authorized Government Agency(s):

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Colombia

Agency(s) Contact Information:

Ministerio de agricultura y Desarrollo Rural de Colombia
Avenida Jimenez N°7-65 PBX
Bogota DC
Republica de Colombia
Phone: (+571) 334-1199
Website

Organic Regulations and/or Standards

Name(s) of Regulation and/or Standard:

Colombian Ministry of Agriculture issued the first regulation (Res. 0544/1995), which was modified in 2002 (Res. 0074), in 2004 (Res. 148) (.pdf in Spanish) and in 2006 (Res. 0187) (.pdf In Spanish)

"Regulation for primary production, processing, packaging, labeling, storage, certification, import, marketing of Organic Agricultural Products" includes additional details.

Date of Implementation: 1995

Regulation and/or Standard Scope:

Regulates the agricultural production, processing, packaging, labeling, storage, certification, imports and sales of organic products

The regulation applies to unprocessed fresh vegetables and fish products and processed products destined for human consumption

Imported Products

Imported organic products must:

Comply with Columbia’s laws on foreign trade  Have approval from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, via the Colombian Agricultural and Livestock Institute 

 

Importers shall provide the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development any information it requires, and shall allow Ministry representatives access for inspection of facilities and licenses.

  • Be certified as organic by an accredited certifier in the country of origin or authorized by Colombia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development using equivalent standards, and have a certificate of inspection
  • Be shipped in appropriate packaging/containers that prevent substitution of the contents, and to identify the exporter and marks and numbers to identify the lot with the inspection certificate.
  • Be stored separately from non-organic agricultural products.
Certification and Accreditation

Certification:

Certifiers must be accredited.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development maintains a list of accredited certifiers.

Accreditation Method:

Government

Accreditation:

Superintendent of Industry and Commerce (Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism)

Additional Information

USDA's GAIN Report Colombia Issues Nutrition and Front of Pack Labeling Requirements for Processed Foods (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Colombia Issues New Resolution on Nutrition and Front of Pack Labeling Requirements for Processed Foods (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Update on Colombia Nutrition and Front-of Pack Labeling Requirements Resolution 810 of 2021 for Packaged Foods (2022)
USDA's GAIN Report Exporter Guide (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Retail Foods Guide (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Colombia Food Service - Hotel Restaurant Institutional (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Food Processing Ingredients (2021)
USDA's GAIN Report Columbia Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards Country Report (2023)
USDA's GAIN Report Columbia Food and Agricultural Import Regulations and Standards - Export Certificate Report (2023)

Definitions

Definitions

Term

Definition

Health and Wellness

Health and wellness is the aggregation of organic packaged food and beverages, fortified/functional packaged food and beverages, naturally healthy packaged food and beverages, better for you packaged food and beverages and food intolerance products.

Organic packaged foods and beverages

This category includes packaged food & beverages that are certified organic by an approved certification body. Organic production is based on:

• A system of farming that maintains and replenishes soil fertility without the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers.
• Organic food & beverages are minimally processed without artificial ingredients, preservatives or irradiation.
• The use of GMOs (Genetically Modified Organism) is prohibited. “Certified Organic” means the item has been grown according to strict uniform standards that are verified by independent state or private organizations.
• Depending on the country, such products are called ‘organic’, ‘biological’ or ‘ecological’: For organic products to be included under Euromonitor definitions, the organic aspect needs to form part of positioning/marketing of the product. This is an aggregation of organic baby food, bakery, confectionery, dairy, ice cream, oils and fats, ready meals, rice, sauces, dressings and condiments, snack bars, soups, spreads, sweet and savory snacks and other organic food.

Note that fresh food products or individual ingredients are not included in this definition.

Compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) is the average annual growth rate over a specified period of time. For instance, the CAGR consumption of from 2018 – 2021 will be the average growth rates across these three years.

USDA GATS data clarification

The data presented in table 2.4 represents the dollar values of the top 5 organic commodities as well as of the total organic exports of the trade partner for the period 2018-2021 as per the United States Department of Agriculture’s Global Agricultural Trade System, a database consisting of international agricultural, fish, forest and textile products trade statistics dating from the inception of the Harmonized coding system in 1989 to present.
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How to use this website

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) brings the US organic industry to developing markets around the world. This database is a comprehensive tool for OTA membership interested in participating in or expanding international trade in organic products by providing information to understand international markets for organic products. Select the country you wish to export to and find out whether it has an agreement with the United States, who its certifiers are, and much more.

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