Participatory Guarantee Systems PGS

Participatory Guarantee Systems ( PGS ) quality assurance systems, especially for locally defined markets for food.

Apply PGS especially in organic farming, where they form an alternative and complement to traditional third- party certification systems. They are especially in relation to local markets and short supply chains of meaning.

Definition

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements describes the PGS as follows:

" Participatory Guarantee Systems ( PGS) are locally focused quality assurance systems. They certify producers based on active participation of stakeholders and are built on a foundation of trust, social networks and knowledge sharing. "

Dissemination

First PGS initiatives, such as the French organization founded in 1972, Nature & Progres, already emerged in the 1970s. Worldwide importance and dissemination as an alternative method of certification attained PGS but only after the turn of the millennium. The global growth of organic agriculture and the ongoing regulation of production by organic standards and certification Bioverordnungen require alternative approaches, especially for small farmers and for countries where organic farming begins to develop only.

In 2012, PGS initiatives exist in about 20 countries, in many other countries, new initiatives under construction are understood. Pioneer here are Latin America and South and Southeast Asia. There, thousands of farmers are already involved in PGS, some governments consider PGS in their Bioverordnungen as an alternative guarantee system. The Brazilian organic production recognizes PGS operation of law even as completely equivalent to the third- party certification to. Other countries like India allow PGS for national markets, a number of countries - particularly in Latin America - authorize the alternative guarantee system in the local context and in direct marketing.

The EU, U.S. and Japan recognize PGS currently away. Products can only be sold as " organic" if they are certified by a neutral third party.

Mark

Participatory Guarantee Systems are there to create confidence in agricultural products, and to provide reliable guarantees about the biological quality of organic products. Unlike third- party certification systems PGS by building on the direct participation of producers, consumers and other stakeholders in the certification process. Ideally, farmers, consumers, NGOs, scientists and other stakeholders in the organic sector are not only involved in the inspection and certification decisions, but also involved in the selection and preparation of standards and certification procedures.

Features

  • Locally based organization
  • Standards, which are supported by all stakeholders
  • Documented management systems and processes
  • Clear, pre-defined consequences for rule violations
  • Mechanisms to help farmers
  • Principles and values ​​to increase the standard of living
  • Mechanisms to verify compliance with the rules
  • Labeling of products
  • Suitability for small-scale farmers

Core elements

  • Shared Vision
  • Participation
  • Transparency
  • Horizontality
  • Learning process
  • Assurances by the farmer
  • Confidence: based on integrity approach

Benefits

PGS should be regarded as complementary to other certification approaches. While conventional certification systems in an international and mainstream trade are appropriate, PGS are particularly suitable for small -scale agriculture and local markets. For many farmers, especially thousands of small farmers in developing countries, conventional certification is difficult to access. High certification costs, difficult -to-understand standards and other obstacles block their access. In PGS the cost instead of falling into financial shape primarily as a voluntary expenditure of time. The involvement of many stakeholders leads to an intensive exchange of knowledge as well as to an increase in competence. These procedures make PGS more accessible for many farmers. In countries where official organic certification is not well established or satisfactory, PGS may be the only way for consumers to come to trustworthy organic products. In countries with established structures, as in Europe, PGS may be a way to re-establish closer relations between the producers and consumers.

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