The Organic Trade Association offers a three-part Export Readiness Training, to begin November 2, 2023. Attendees will assess their capacity for exporting, identify key foreign markets, and learn practical fundamentals to export products with confidence.
Please register by Wednesday, October 25, 2023. Registration for this training is $350. Scholarships are available.
The Canada Organic Trade Association will host its annual Organic Summit November 20, 2023 with speakers from around the world, an annual update from the Canada Organic Regime, workshops and break out groups, focused around the theme of Greenovation for the Next Generation. Buy tickets by November 10. Remote participation is an option.
Canada Organic Trade Association will present a webinar with the latest statistics about the Canadian organic sector on October 20, 2023 from 2-3. The session is free to COTA members and $100 plus tax for others.
Changes to sodium content limits and recommended energy and nutrient intakes are in place. The Philippines Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is using new recommended energy and nutrient intakes as prescribed in the 2015 Philippine Dietary Reference Intakes as the reference standard in nutrition labelling of processed food products, planning food fortification program, nutrition advocacy, and formulating laws, among others.
Sustainable procurement and organic targets for the European Union were among the highlights from the 2023 European Organic Congress hosted byIFOAM Organics Europe.
In an effort to build trust with consumers amid concerns about adulterated organic products in the market, India’s Food Safety and Standards Authority (FSSAI) has directed all state-authorized laboratories to put infrastructure in place for testing organic products. The government of India intends to promote organic products domestically and to boost exports, and wants reliable testing to assure the authenticity of organic products.
Food and beverage companies interested in Asian markets need to understand how to navigate consumers’ increasing interest in health and affordability. The majority of consumers in Asia (62%) trust the health claims made on products, as governments are standardizing “Healthier Choices” symbols and initiatives. Meanwhile, 70% say they are actively trying to save money on food and beverage purchases.
As of December 2023, the Glastir Organic support program for organic farms will close. Organic farms will then have to apply to the Sustainable Farming Support Scheme. A new program is in the works, but details will not be available until the end of the year. Opposed to the move, the Soil Association reports that the changes will remove £3.1 million of support dedicated to organic farms. Within the United Kingdom, Wales has the highest proportion of land area certified as organic.
Since July 31, 2023 all beverages intended for retail sale—including imports—with more than 1.15% alcohol by volume must include a specific pregnancy warning label. Food Standards Australia New Zealand posted guidelines to assist with compliance.
New labeling requirements mandate specific nutritional information on new food and beverage products and mandate the use of an online registration system, effective July 1. To assist food and beverage manufacturers with South Korea’s new rules, the government developed a 50-page guidance booklet.
Bulk shipments of the same items imported to separate locations now have a standardized system that removes multiple rounds of application and declaration, streamlining the import process. There are also shorter processing privileges for food and beverage firms with a good trade history in Korea.
The European Parliament voted on July 11 to reject a proposal to create detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for food and feed. IN the absense of those rules, organic salt operators may be certified as organic on the basis of the principles and general production rules of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, and European Union Member States have the option to use detailed national production rules.
With about 20% of the vineyards farmed organically, France is Europe’s leader in organic vineyard management. Organic vineyard acreage increased in 2021 to 90,3000 hectares, up 13% from 2020. Consumption of organic wine in France is up as well, with 36% of shoppers reporting drinking organic wine at least occasionally, up from 17% in 2015. Overall, organic food and beverage products hold a 7% market share in France. Over half (53%) of consumers say they buy organic food often, and 96% of French consumers recognize the organic label. Concern about the environment is one of the drivers of organic wine purchases.
Young consumers in Europe are more open to genetically modified foods, especially if those foods provide a boost in nutrition, reports Food Navigator. Research from Mintel found that about 23% of Germans aged 16-24, compared to 13% overall, would choose a product with GMO ingredients if it were more nutritions. Likewise, 40% of Brits aged 16-44 would buy genetically modified produce if it were more nutritious.
The European Commission proposed two categories of plants created from new genomic techniques, such as CRISPR. Those plants that could also occur naturally or through conventional breeding and those with fewer than 20 genetic modifications would be exempt from GMO legislation and labeling. All others would be considered GMOs, and subject to risk assessments and authorization. The proposal would need to be approved by the European Parliament and EU governments.
The UK's Council on Geostrategy published an overview of how to negotiate with Chinese counterparts, based on diplomatic experience.
India agreed to remove tariffs on certain U.S. products, including chickpeas, lentils, almonds, walnuts, apples, boric acid, and diagnostic reagents.
Single-use plastics, including but not limited to bowls, plates, trays and cutlery, will be banned in the United Kingdom beginning October 1, 2023. Soft drink bottles and some other types of packaging are excluded from the ban.
The Soil Association Standards for Great Britain, Organic Standards for Great Britain, the Soil Association Standards for Northern Ireland, and the Organic Standards for Northern Ireland have been updated.