Over 50 stakeholders of the virgin coconut oil value chain and government officials gathered at the 1st technical working group (TWG) on Organic Certification of Virgin Coconut Oil. The 1st TWG was jointly organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and UNCTAD to discuss policy options to improve the economic feasibility of organic certification for smallholder producers and micro and small businesses in the sector.

The TWG members highlighted the challenges in maximizing the benefits of organic certification for successful commercialization and economic sustainability in the virgin coconut oil (VCO) sector. “We need to reform the current system of organic certification that does not favour small and vulnerable VCO producers that aspire to compete in international markets”, Ms. Agnes Cristobal, Executive Director of VCOP, said.

In break-out sessions, participants assessed and prioritized the policy options from an in-depth study of organic certification in the Philippine coconut oil value chain, conducted by UNCTAD under its project “Fostering the development of green exports through Voluntary Sustainability Standards in Asia and the Pacific”.

The 1st TWG agreed to structure the discussion outcome in a draft for a National Action Plan (NAP), and to adopt the NAP at the 2nd TWG, planned for February 2020. The NAP will contribute to Strategy 3 of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) 2018-2022: “Design comprehensive packages of support for selected products and services sector”, the upcoming Coconut Industry Development Roadmap (CIDR) and Coconut Coordination Committee.