41) The Committee recalled that at its 28th session the Delegation of Malaysia proposed to add by-products of oil palm cocoa and coconut to the substances for the use in soil fertilization and condition in Table 1 of the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods. In view of the specific and non-controversial nature of this amendment, the Committee proposed to use the Accelerated Procedure and this was subsequently approved by the 47th Session of the Executive Committee.
42) The Working Group considered the proposal by Malaysia with the comments received and agreed that the materials proposed should be included in the list of inputs for soil fertilization and conditioning. However, a number of members of the Working Group considered that such products should be devoid of synthetic additives, in conformity with the criteria for the use of materials in organic systems set out in Section 5 of the Guidelines. This criteria should be adhered to in selecting inputs for organic production systems.
43) The Working Group also noted that in developing countries the organic industry is at an early stage and it is more important at this point in time to encourage both the development of the industry and the recycling of plant materials. Therefore, the Working Group concluded that plant materials containing synthetic additives may be used providing they are adequately composted before application although this requirement was not specifically included in the conditions relating to by-products of the palm and cocoa industries.
44) The Committee also noted a proposal from Mexico for the inclusion of by-products from the production process of sugar cane and sugar. It was recognized that these inputs were already permitted as substances for use in soil fertilizing and conditioning within Annex 2, Table 1: by-products of the sugar industry, and composts of plant residues.
Status of the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods
45) The Committee advanced the Proposed Draft Amendment to the Guidelines (Annex 2, Table 1, Substances for use in soil fertilizing and conditioning), to Step 5 of the Accelerated Procedure for adoption by the 24th Session of the Commission (see Appendix III).
