[MPWG] QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Certification Schemes

Mon Dec 6 15:34:11 CST 2004

Dear Steve, et al.-

For those of us who aren't familiar with the acronyms, could you tell us
what IFOAM and NOP stand for?

As a consumer and a botanist, I agree that quality is an important issue -
perhaps it is the one common thread that all stakeholders (both involved in
the supply chain and looking in on it) could agree on, albeit for different
reasons along the way.  So, let's look at "quality."

How is "quality" defined?  Is it defined by cleanliness, by potency, by
lack of residuals, by the effect of its harvest/cultivation on the
environment, by grower/harvester quality of life?  I think we would all
agree that there is no ONE ANSWER.  All I'm trying to point out is, due to
the nature of the beast (pun intended), a discussion on medicinal plant
quality is different depending on who is taking part in the conversation.
If the term "quality" is not defined, we might all be using the word with
very different meanings.

Here's another one: Take the term "standardized extracts."  Already, this
term is loaded because it contains the word "standard" - but who's standard
and what does that really mean?  A product might be standardized to the
active ingredient (take salicylic acid, for instance).  But, with many
medicinal products, we don't even know what active ingredient to aim
toward.  So, the component to which the product is standardized is a marker
compound.  And rightly so, as for many medicinals, it is probably not any
one compound that's doing the work but some complex mix of compounds
working in unison.

Do many consumers out there understand what "standard" means in this
context?  Probably not.  Do they really care?  Maybe not.  Should they
care?  I think so.  But, how do they even know to care if they have no idea
what's behind it?

I think there are a lot of people (up and down the supply chain) who do
care.  The fact is, the complexity of medicinal plant issues goes against
the natural human inclination for simplicity.  It is human nature (ok, it's
my nature, at least!) to zero in things - to boil things down, so I don't
have to make so many decisions or think about too much stuff.  But, I also
like to think that the decisions I make are the right ones for myself, for
my family, for my neighborhood, for posterity.  Lofty goals for a single
mom of two elementary school kids, with a day job to boot!

What can I do?  Beyond my friends, family and neighbors (which provide
insight to a certain extent), I might turn to labels, certification
programs, endorsements.  We've got GMPs, GAPs, Certified Organic, Fair
Trade, FSC, sustainable agriculture, holistic management, etc.

According to Steve, "The organic program is an eco-label that provides
assurance to the consumer that foods labeled organic have met standards of
production."   Since many medicinal plants are considered dietary
supplements, perhaps this food certification program has something to offer
with regard to medicinals.  What are some of the strengths and weaknesses?
What lessons from the organic program experience that can be applied to the
medicinal plant arena?  What about wild-harvested materials?

-Patricia

Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
Botanist - Division of Scientific Authority
Chair - Plant Conservation Alliance - Medicinal Plant Working Group
US Fish & Wildlife Service
4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 750
Arlington, VA  22203
703-358-1708 x1753
FAX: 703-358-2276
Working for the conservation and sustainable use of our green natural
resources.
<www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>

                      Steve Diver <steved at ncat.org>                                                                                                
                      Sent by:                              To:      mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org                                              
                      MPWG-bounces at lists.plantconse         cc:                                                                                    
                      rvation.org                           Subject: Re: [MPWG] QUESTION OF THE MONTH: Certification Schemes                       

                      12/06/2004 02:12 PM                                                                                                          

Allow me to say that this viewpoint from Fred Hays on organic
certification and the history of organic certification is a rather
skewed and jaded opinion.

I was involved with organic certification with the grassroots
organizations going back to the early 1980s.  The system in
place for many years was admirable and professional, based
largely on international IFOAM standards.

The National Organic Standards resulted from intense
lobbying efforts to standardize certification and reduce
minor variances between programs.  International
trade and standardization is a major factor in modern
organic markets.

The USDA program is currently working very well.  The
standards are there, organic inspection is there, certification
and record keeping is there.

Human beings from many walks of life are very concerned
about food safety and food quality.    The organic program
is an eco-label that provides assurance to the consumer
that foods labeled organic have met standards of production.

ATTRA, where I work, has supported organic farmers
for over 15 years.  Please feel free to examine the organic
documentation forms on the ATTRA web page.

There are certain aspects of the NOP that farmers would
like to see improved.  In my experience it needs to be
more dynamic and flexible when needed adjustments
are brought to attention. But on the whole there is
no mystery about the NOP program, there is no
question that it is very legitimate and professional.

Frankly, if anybody wants to explore organic certification
it is widely available.

Of prime importance as it relates to medicinal plants,
and organic foods and produce of all kinds, is quality.

The nutritional quality of organic food products and
medicinal herbs has many interesting topics, from
innovative quality tests to agronomic methods to
enhance nutritional components.

Steve Diver
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
http://www.attra.ncat.org

Center for Sustainable Resources wrote:
 >Patricia mentions the organic standards we now have. I can' think of a
better example of what not to >do. Those standards have become
meaningless since the USDA intervention. The intervention >resulted
because many little organic factions accrross the country were trying to
impose their own >standards and charge fees for it etc. The term organic
is simply a feel good thing for certain groups >especially what we call
the yuppies. It has nothing to do with quality or even the way something
 >was produced.

stuff deleted

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