The Asian Food Brief

The Asian Food BriefApril 2007 

Welcome to Noon International’s 2^nd edition of its Asian Food Brief.  In this issue we focus on organic foods in

China.  As we strive to provide a newsletter that you find helpful, we encourage your comments and suggestions for future issues.

ORGANIC FOODS IN

CHINA – HOW GREEN IS GREEN?

Let’s set things straight right away – Green Food as it is known in

China is NOT a synonym for organic!  Confused? The terminologies are misunderstood not only by Americans but by many of the Chinese themselves. 

“GREEN FOOD”

China’s “green food” concept came into being in 1990 as an idea put forth by the Ministry of Agriculture to help create and produce non-polluted, safe, high quality and nutritious foods for the people of

China.  The “Green Food” label allows limited amounts of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and does not adhere to true “organic” standards as we know them today. 

Under the guiding hand of the Ministry of Agriculture, the China Green Food Development Center (CGFDC) was established in the early ‘90’s alongside the OFDC (

Organic

Food

Development

Center) under the auspices of SEPA – the State Environmental Protection Agency.  Over the past decade more attention has been given to the development and propagation of ‘green food’ under the CGFDC rather than organic food under the OFDC (although this is now changing to a certain degree). 

The Ministry of Agriculture’s focus on green rather than organic was purposeful.  The intent was to focus on improving the health of the domestic population. Regulations concerning labeling, special green food packaging, and other standards were published by the Ministry of Agriculture.  CGFDC offices were set up in provinces, independent cities and prefectures under the State plan.  Some areas even built green food storage and transport facilities. By 2003 there were 2047 green food producers in

China which sold 72.3 billion yuan of food to the domestic market. Today, green food sales in

China continue to grow— increasing 18 percent in 2005 to about 100 billion yuan ($13 billion according to investment bank Credit Suisse).  JP Morgan analyst Karen Li said that “This is trending upwards. More and more Chinese customers will ask for green or organic products just like the consumers outside of

China.  They’re becoming wealthy and they’re going to ask for food with better standards.”  Scares such as baby food recalls and high pesticide and nitrate warnings in foods have increased public awareness and helped promote the safety of the green food concept.

THE IRONY?

Chinese domestic consumers don’t know much about “organics” and even believe that green food is healthier.  Eva Sternfeld of China Environment and Sustainable Development Reference and Research Center ( CESDRRC) probably explained it best:  “Everyone knows the green food label, but it has also caused confusion.  If you go on to the street, even in

Beijing and ask people whether organic food or green food is healthier for them or which one is better for the environment, most people will tell you green food.  In Chinese green sounds better than organic which most people haven’t even heard of anyway?”

SHIFT TO ORGANIC FOCUS

That being said, there is a current shift underway that is leading to more production of true organic products. Led by a change in government focus, this shift can be attributed in part to

China’s previous inability to meet global standards by having only the green foods standards as guidelines.  Environmental issues are also playing a big part in the government’s need to support the organic movement. 

ORGANIC CERTIFICATION

This new focus on organics means that today in

China there are over 4,000 hectares of land producing organic food. Products range from traditional fruits and vegetables to wine, grains, and tea and soy products. They are overseen by over 30 different certifiers with their own standards and labels as well as overall overriding monitoring agencies.

Organic products are grown predominantly by individual farmers or cooperatives (developed with international partners) for export. In contrast, green food is mostly produced on state-run farms. Many farmers are reluctant to grow organic products because they are not as attractive to the consumer’s eye or often smaller in size.  In addition, they must pay the additional certification process and if they have been growing conventional vegetables they must also allow the land to lie fallow for three years. Because of these barriers, only with partnership and firm markets will they convert to the organic side.

The State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA) teamed up with GTZ (German Technical Cooperator Group) in 2003 to develop the first real organic certification and standards.  In 2005 the Certification & Accreditation Administration of China developed the first National Standards for Organic Produce.  These standards are now required on all organic foods (along with any international certifications) if it is to be sold as “organic” either in the domestic or international market.

The OFCD is the oldest and largest research organization and inspection/certification body in

China, has been accredited by IFOAM (International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements) and is ISO65 accredited.  It employs certified organic inspectors, many of whom have been trained through the IOIA (International Organic Inspectors Association).  On July 01, 2006 they published the new OFDC Organic Certification Standards with IFOAM accreditation.

OFDC can provide organic certification service to the National Organic Product Standard of China (mentioned above) and their own OFDC Organic Certification Standard.  It can also provide inspection for OCIA certification programs via the OCIA China Chapter.

Organic certification is also available through other services in

China.  For example, one such service is SGS, whose certification is accredited to ISO Guide 65/EN45011 by Dutch agency RVA as well as by MAFF Japan and USDA.

SEEDS OF DOUBT

With regards to organics,

China faces many uphill battles and as a country comes under particular scrutiny for various reasons.  The rapid growth and quick conversion of many hectares from conventional to organic as well as the legacy of past agricultural practices and questions of possible toxic residues in the soil increase concerns.  Polluted water supplies and other environmental issues cannot help but raise questions in the minds of buyers today.  This presents a real problem due to the booming demand for organic foods worldwide.  Buyers are searching for organic teas, soy, bamboo shoots, peapods (mange tout), and edamame and such products in quantity are not easy to find.

Give us a call if you’re interested in learning more about certified organic products in

China.  It is more critical than ever to get safe and reliable expertise, especially with the overall supply being limited.

DID YOU KNOW…? 

–That you can contact Noon International to receive a copy of the OFDC Organic Certification Standards (Effective Date July 01, 2006).

–That China produces and discards more than 45 billion (THAT’S BILLION) pair of wooden chopsticks every year –and add to this another 15 billion exported to Japan and

Korea – that’s about 25 million trees.

–More than 2,000 Chinese plants have been certified since 1997 as kosher (under Jewish dietary laws) hoping to tap into a trade estimated at $150 billion dollars annually. From Rabbi Avrom Pollok of Star-K who made his first visit to China over 15 years ago:  “As I was getting ready to leave all the employees are standing around, and I could see they were expecting something.  Finally they said they were waiting for the rabbit.   They had been told “a rabbit would be coming from the

U.S.” to see if they were kosher.

–That there are now more than 2200 websites about Chinese agriculture from government organizations to educational and agricultural enterprises (you may have even been contacted by a few!).

–One hectare is equal to 15 mu in

China which translates into 2.47 acres as we know them.

–The Bing cherry was named after an

Oregon farmer of Chinese descent.

–The rose was first cultivated in

China 5000 years ago.

–In

China, color is symbolic – RED means good luck and happiness, GOLD signifies money and prosperity and WHITE signifies mourning.

–Finally, did you know that recent environmental research reports claim that of the 80 percent of the world’s e-waste that pours into Asia every year, 90 percent is dumped in

China?  Don’t miss our newsletter next month:

China – The World’s Largest Garbage Dump!  Just the facts!

SOURCES Retrieved from: Organic Consumers Association   Hodes, Laura  Chicago Tribune  1/31 2007 Questioning

China’s Commitment to Organic Food StandardsRetrieved from: Worldwide Watch Institute  http://www.worldwatch.org  Buckley, Lila  1/28/06 Pathbreaking Newsletter Promotes Development of Organic Sector in

ChinaChaney, Joseph   Reuters, www.washingtonpost.com  3/29/07 The “green” and hopefully clean produce of

China

Retrieved from:  Green Choice

Beijing Agriculture and GardeningBarrett, Stephen, M.D.   Quackwatch   1/17/06 “Organic Foods: Certification Does Not Protect ConsumersRetrieved from: Genetic ID ICS Japan, Inc. Retrieved from: www.chinagate.com.cn  People’s Daily Online The Green Food ProjectHenneberry Shida Ph.D. Emerging Roles for Food Labels in a Global MarketRetrieved from:  BioFach

China www.biofach-china.comRetrieved from Organic Food Development Center SEPA;  www.ofcd.og.cn The Organic & Non-GMO Report Volume 7 Issue 1  February 2007OFCD Organic Certification Standards  Organic Food Development and

Certification

Center May 2007Retrieved from: The World of Organic Agriculture – Statistics & Emerging Trends 2006Osnos, Evan Chicago Tribune, April 02, 2007

China Businesses Clamor to Go KosherBriones, Angelina, University of the Philippines Los Banos Organic Agriculture in

Asia:  Implications to Development, Environment and Trade in Developing Countries