This volume represents a further step in the development of proposals on harmonization of the regulation of production and trade in products from organic agriculture. It was commissioned by the International Task Force on Harmonization and Equivalence in Organic Agriculture (ITF), which was established by IFOAM, FAO and UNCTAD in February 2003. Annex 1 provides further detail of the overall objectives of the ITF. At the first meeting of the task force on 18-19 February 2003, an initial work plan was established which resulted in the preparation of five baseline papers:

• Commins (2005) reviewed the current status of existing international standards, regulations and private organic standards and both the current regulatory and private conformity assessment systems. It therefore provides an objective starting point for our discussion;
• Bowen (2005) described the current mechanisms, both public and private that enable international trade in organic products highlighting the differences between the various systems;
• Wynen (2005) provided an initial analysis of the potential impact of increased harmonization of regulation on the trade in organic product. Looked at it in another way, it discusses the cost of the lack of harmonization;
• Courville and Crucefix (2005) investigated and described potential models for regulation of other industries and reviewed and raised issues over their appropriateness for the organic sector; and
• Arvius - Swedish Board of Trade (2003) presented a review of the obstacles to organic trade with special reference to the European Union and made recommendations for amendments to EU Regulation 2092/91.