China

In China, organic food production is regulated by the National Standards for the People’s Republic of China: Organic Products (GB/T19630-2011). The standard was published in 2005 by the Standardization Administration of the People’s Republic of China (SAC), a revised version was published in 2011. Additionally, Administrative Measures for Organic Product Certification (AQSIQ Decree No. 155), implemented at April 1st, 2014, define rules for the certification, production, processing, import and sales of organic products in China. The newly established General Administration of Market Supervision (GAMR) has absorbed the duties of AQSIQ and the SAC.

Responsibility for organic agriculture in China is shared between the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ), now under supervision of the General Administration of Market Supervision (GAMR). The competent authority responsible for the implementation of the organic production standard is the Certification and Accreditation Administration of the People’s Republic of China (CNCA), now also under supervision of the General Administration of Market Supervision (GAMR) and responsible for the authorization and supervision of the Chinese organic certification bodies.

There is a mandatory national organic logo for organic products certified according to the National Standards (GB/T19630.1-2011 and GB/T19630.2-2011). Part 3 of the standards sets out the general specifications and requirements for the use of the logo (GB/T 19630.3-2011).

In China, there are two organisations with own standards approved by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM): The Organic Food Development and Certification Centre of China (OFDC) and the Sunshine Earth Farm. OFDC developed an own label which can only be used on exported products.

The control and certification process is performed by private and state-owned control bodies which are authorized by the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) and accredited by the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS). A list of control bodies is provided by the Certification and Accreditation Administration (CNCA).

The National Standard of the People’s Republic of China: Organic Products (GB/T19630-2011) and Chapter 3 of the Administrative Measures on Organic Product Certification (AQSIQ Decree Not. 155) on Import of Organic Products define rules for the import of organic products to China.

For countries or regions exporting organic products to China whose certification system is accepted to be equivalent to China’s product certification system, the Certification and Accreditation Administration of China (CNCA) may sign a cooperation agreement or memorandum with the competent authority of the country. Organic products exported to China from these countries or regions have to be managed in accordance with the requirements set up in the cooperation agreement or memorandum. So far, only New Zealand has signed an equivalency agreement with China, which is not yet in force. With other countries, negotiations are in progress.

Products imported from countries or regions without equivalence agreement, have to comply with Chinese regulations on organic production. These products need a certification by a Chinese inspection body approved by the CNCA. Article 21 to 24 of the Administrative Measures on Organic Product Certification (AQSIQ Decree Not. 155) define the detailed requirements, including the documents that must be submitted as evidence of compliance.

Further information on organic agriculture in China.