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NaTrue, a European certifier of natural and organic cosmetics, is working on a mutual recognition agreement with the Natural Products Association (NPA) in the US.

The two parties have been in talks but an agreement will only be signed pending approval from the Natural Products Association (NPA) board of directors in June or July, according to NaTrue general secretary Julie Tyrrell.

An agreement would mean that products complying with the Natrue label or the NPA standard will be mutually recognised so manufacturers do not have to go through the full certification process again when they cross the Atlantic with their products.

NaTrue has already signed an equivalency agreement with a US certifier this year. In February, the natural cosmetics lobby group signed a mutual recognition agreement with Quality Assurance International (QAI), which is behind the NSF standard.

The preliminary agreement with NPA, announced at the Natural Beauty Summit America in New York earlier this month, promises to extend the reach of the Natrue standard outside Europe.

“With Natrue already in a similar agreement with NSF, the NaTrue standard is fast developing an international presence,” said Amarjit Sahota from Organic Monitor, which organizes the Natural Beauty Summit with Beyond Beauty Paris.

The NaTrue standard was launched in September last year and so far 120 products have been certified and several hundred other products are in the process of being certified.  An agreement with NPA would also extend the presence of NPA’s natural standard, which entered the cosmetics market last year with a new natural seal.

So far Aubrey Organics, Burt’s Bees and JR Watkins Apothecary have met the NPA criteria and are now entitled to bear the new seal on their products.

With the support of these companies, Sahota said the NPA is one of the front runners in the US certification battle. Burt’s Bees has invested US $1m to promote the NPA standard and the body is set to have a presence in Europe.

Natural Cosmetics Masterclass
A plethora of natural & organic cosmetic standards have been introduced over the last 18 months. Cosmetic manufacturers, formulators and ingredient companies are questioning the differences between these standards and their practical implications. The upcoming Masterclass by Organic Monitor navigate companies through the maze of natural & organic cosmetic standards, looking specifically at the technical, formulation and ingredient issues involved.

Event: Natural Cosmetics Masterclass (London), July 8 2009

Source: NOVIS / Organic Monitor
 

Demand for organic foods is booming, with sales increasing by 103% sales 2005. According to Børsen, organic food sales from supermarkets and department stores amounted to almost DKK 5bn (EUR 671m) in 2008, a 29% increase on 2007.

Organic cheese is one of the fastest growing product segments. According to the Danish Statistical Office, organic cheese sales grew by 30% to DKK 176mn (EUR 24m) in 2008. The increase is partly attributed to national campaigns for organic cheese launched by the Danish Dairy Board and the organic farmer organisation Økologisk Landsforening during 2008. Despite the increase in sales, organic cheese only accounts for 5% of total cheese sales in Denmark.

Organic Monitor finds that industry investment is rising because of high consumer demand for organic products. Inco Denmark, a leading food wholesaler, has decided to increase its focus on organic products because of high demand. Rose Poultry has announced it will launch frozen organic chicken on a large-scale in June. The organic chicken will be sold by Irma, Superbrugsen and Kvickly on a regular basis.

Investment is also coming from Aarstiderne. The leading supplier of organic fresh produce to consumer households has established a subsidiary, Aarstiderne Engros, that will start supplying organic foods to restaurants and canteens. 

Source: Various Media Sources / Organic Monitor
 

The Irish market for organic food is still growing despite the difficult economic climate, and is now worth EUR 104 million, delegates at a recent Teagasc National Organic Conference were told. The theme for the conference was 'Opportunities for Organic Producers in Challenging Times'.

The largest markets in Europe are in Germany, the UK, France and Italy. Dr Nic Lampkin, director of Organic Research Centre, Elm Farm and author of Organic Farming, presented a paper on the European market situations. He said that market growth is expected to continue, but at a slower rate.

He pointed out that 80% of sales of organic produce go to regular and committed organic consumers. He would see a need for a strong unified voice for the organic industry, extolling the virtues of organic products to consumers.

Delegates to the conference heard how poor prices for conventional farm produce combined with high input costs are forcing more farmers to explore organic farming.

Just over 1% of the land area in Ireland is devoted to organic production, by 1,100 farmers, which is less than the average of 5% of EU land area used for organic production. Government policy is to increase organic food production to 5% by 2012.

Organic farming is particularly suited to beef and cereal farmers and can increase profit on many farms.

There are a number of factors which make organic farming more profitable that conventional, including achieving a premium price for produce, maximising organic scheme payments and minimising the use of expensive inputs.

Teagasc organic specialist James McDonnell said that the net margin from organic beef farming is, on average, higher than that obtained on conventional beef farms. He said that organic milk production is financially attractive to farmers up to a stocking rate of 1.7 livestock units per hectare. He also pointed out that excellent margins can be achieved from producing cereals organically on tillage farms.

Teagasc organic specialist, Dan Clavin outlined the financial planning needed by farmers prior to converting to organic production. He said that the switch to organic farming may be the biggest farm management decision ever taken by an individual farmer and careful planning is essential. He pointed out that the vast majority of organic farmers have no regrets after converting.

Source: Carlow Nationalist