An organic guarantee and labelling system created under the auspices of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has met with success in New Caledonia.
An organic guarantee and labelling system created under the auspices of the Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community (POETCom) and Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) has met with success in New Caledonia, with certified organic fruits and vegetables being welcomed by consumers at markets and supermarkets around the territory.The guarantee system, the first of its kind in the Pacific Islands, is overseen by Bio Caledonia, a New Caledonia association created in 2009. Under the system, known internationally as a 'Participatory Guarantee System', farmers and consumers work together in local groups around the territory to ensure that products are produced in accordance with the Pacific Organic Standard. Certified products carry the Organic Pasifika Guarantee label (Bio Pasifika Garanti in French).
The Pacific Organic Standard was developed by the POETCom. SPC acts as the secretariat for POETCom and is the custodian of the Organic Pasifika label.
Certified organic products meet standards equivalent to those of the European Union, and once a system of third party certification is in place they will be eligible for export to Europe. More than 20 New Caledonia farmers have received Organic Pasifika certification or are in the process of receiving it. In addition to fruit and vegetable farmers, chicken and beef producers are in the process of being certified.