Embassy Press Release

Organic Products – Certification and Marketing

May 11, 2009

Chargé d'Affair Jeri Guthrie-Corn (Center), speaks at the opening of the Organic Products – Certification and Marketing Seminar which took place on May 11, 2009, at the American Cultural Center. Bucharest, May 11, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

The Embassy of the United States of America in Romania hosted a seminar in Bucharest to discuss the latest developments in organic production and consumption in United States and worldwide as well as to introduce to the Romanian audience the provisions of the U.S. National Organic Program (NOP).

The principal speaker, Mark Manis, Senior Trade Policy Advisor, U.S. Department of Agriculture, has an extensive experience in the World Trade Organization’s negotiations on agriculture, the monitoring and enforcement of trade agreements and organic equivalence negotiations. During the seminar Mark Manis answered questions and discussed organics at length with representatives of the Romanian Government, organic farmers, academics and media.

In her opening remarks, the U.S. Charge D’Affairs, Jeri Guthrie-Corn stated "organic products are a growing part of the domestic U.S. market as well as our export market. They fit within a comprehensive, seamless and safe United States food system that protects all consumers”. Mark Manis added "while U.S. exports are only expected to increase 5 percent, overall total world trade in organics is expected to grow 16 percent this year”.

Mark Manis focused in his exposition on the standards, certification and compliance stipulated by the NOP and the international agreements signed by United States to facilitate international organic trade. Ing. Ion Toncea, President of the National Federation for Organic Production, spoke about the legal framework of organic production in Romania and emphasized the expansion of land and livestock generating organic products for the last several years.

For more information, please see:

http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/ then select National Organic Program on the left >http://www.ers.usda.gov/Briefing/Organic/

More photos:

U.S. Department of Agriculture Senior Trade Policy Advisor, Mark Manis (Left), explaining the standards and certifications stipulated by the NOP, and the international agreements signed by United States to facilitate international organic trade. Bucharest, May 11, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

President of the National Federation for Organic Production, Ing. Ion Toncea, speaking about the legal framework of organic production in Romania. Bucharest, May 11, 2009 (Lucian Crusoveanu / Public Diplomacy Office)

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