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Certification scheme for organic produce launched
Friday, January 7, 2005

To cater for the growing organic food market, the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre (HKORC), funded by the Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO), has established a certification scheme to promote organic produce.

The certification system will accredit local farms and processing facilities that meet the organic production standards set by the Centre, strengthening public confidence in organic brands. More than 20 farms are expected to file applications this month.

Officiating at the launching ceremony of the system at the Baptist University today (January 7), the Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Thomas Chan, said the launch marked an important milestone in the development of organic farming.

Mr Chan, who is also head of the VMO, stressed that the certification policy together with the labelling system would motivate organic farmers to expand their businesses and enhance consumers' confidence in organic products.

"Whether a product is organic or not cannot be determined simply by its looks or chemical elements. We need a comprehensive and authoritative accreditation system by an independent body that can ensure the organic production process and conditions required have been strictly followed," Mr Chan said.

The HKORC has taken two years to develop the certification system. A non-profit-making organisation, it was founded in December 2002 by the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Organic Farming Association and the Produce Green Foundation under an agricultural development fund of $3.9 million allocated by the VMO over a three-year period.

It has also established an online database of organic farming for farmers and consumers to share information and exchange views.

Mr Chan said the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department introduced the Organic Farming Conversion Scheme in late 2000 to provide participating farms with technical assistance. Participants are allowed to market their produce through the VMO.

So far 40 farms with a total farming area of 18 hectares have joined the conversion scheme. Organic produce per day during autumn and winter can reach 3.5 tonnes.

At present, there are more than 50 retailing outlets for organic produce under the VMO network, including supermarkets, wet market stalls, MTR shops, health food shops, and the Lions Nature Education Centre in Sai Kung.