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Law “On organic agriculture”.

Country/Territory
Armenia
Document type
Legislation
Date
2008 (2023)
Source
FAO, FAOLEX
Subject
Agricultural & rural development, Livestock, Environment gen., Food & nutrition, Cultivated plants
Keyword
Basic legislation Ecological production/organic production Ecofriendly products/ecofriendly processes Agricultural commodities Transport/storage Processing/handling Certification
Geographical area
Asia, CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), Europe, Europe and Central Asia, Landlocked Developing Nations, Western Asia
Entry into force notes
This Law enters into force one year after the date of its official publication.
Abstract

This Law regulates relations concerning production, storage, processing, transportation and trade of organic agricultural commodities and raw materials, and also lays down legal grounds for organic agriculture, sets forth mandatory requirements for circulation of organic agricultural commodities with a view of granting public support thereto, establishing the duties of the authorized state body in the aforesaid sphere. Organic agriculture shall be considered a special type of agricultural activity, which is most compatible with agroecosystems and implemented in accordance with the requirements of relevant technical rules and regulations. Organic agricultural commodities shall be considered: animal and vegetable products and raw materials produced or processed in conformity with the requirements of organic agriculture, as well as wild plants, whose circulation is set forth by technical regulations. Organic agricultural foodstuffs shall be destined for human consumption. Basic principles of organic agriculture shall be set forth as follows: (a) favorable conditions for conservation of biodiversity through selection of the best plant varieties and pedigree stockbreeding; (b) soil improvement and conservation of soil fertility; (c) use of the best available ecofriendly technologies and practices for processing of agricultural commodities; (d) elimination of environmental pollution, cessation of the use of synthesized chemicals, application of environmentally friendly technologies during agricultural activities; (e) harmonization of agricultural and livestock sectors; and (f) exclusion of hormones, hormonal drugs, as well as GMO, genetic engineering and other modern biotechnologies and methods of ionizing radiation from agricultural production. Article 6 establishes competences of the authorized body of state administration in the field of organic agriculture as follows: (a) develops and implements a unified state policy; (b) within the framework of its powers, develops the rules of production, storage, processing, transportation and sale of organic agricultural products, as well as drafts of other normative legal acts regulating the field; (c) maintains the register of economic entities engaged in organic agriculture in accordance with the procedure established by it and publishes it on the official website; (d) in cooperation with the interested bodies of state administration, implements state control over all stages of the movement of goods from the production of organic agricultural products to the final consumption; (e) adopts orders, rules and other normative acts within the framework of its powers; (f) contributes to the expansion of international cooperation in the field of organic agriculture, the introduction of advanced experience and scientific achievements, the training of personnel; and (g) exercises other powers reserved by this law and the legislation of the Republic of Armenia. Article 7 establishes the procedure for compliance certification in the field of organic agriculture. Certification of conformity of organic agricultural products is carried out by the certification body by issuing an "organic" or "transition period organic" certificate. The procedure for issuing the certificate is defined by the Government of the Republic of Armenia. At least once every year, the certification body carries out an evaluation of the production processes and documentation of the organic agricultural unit.

Full text
Armenian
Website
www.parliament.am

References - Legislation

Amended by

Law No. HO-144-N amending Law “On organic agriculture”.

Legislation | Armenia | 2016

Keyword: Institution, Ecological production/organic production, Certification

Source: FAO, FAOLEX