The Algerian government has taken a significant step towards developing its bio agriculture sector by launching a project with the European Union to establish norms for organic farming and labeling. The project, which is financed by the EU to the tune of one million euros, aims to create a regulatory framework for bio agriculture in Algeria. This framework will enable the country to certify its organic products locally, rather than relying on foreign certification bodies.
Until now, Algerian producers of organic products have had to rely on foreign organisms for certification, which can be a costly and time-consuming process. The project will help to address this issue by establishing a local certification system. The EU has partnered with the Italian and French ministries of agriculture to support the project, which will run for 24 months. The Italian ministry will be responsible for the administrative management of the project, while the French ministry will provide technical assistance.
The project has two main components. The first component involves the elaboration of a regulatory framework for bio agriculture in Algeria, including the definition of responsibilities for competent structures and the organization of control and certification procedures. The second component involves the creation of a Label Agricole de Qualité (LAQ) for Algerian products. This label will be based on the specificities of Algerian products and will help to promote them on the local and international markets.
The project will also involve the training of administrations and organisms responsible for ensuring the functioning of the future national system. This will include the training of inspectors, certifiers, and other stakeholders. The EU has emphasized the importance of stakeholder participation in the project, including producers, transformers, professional organizations, and technical structures.
Five pilot sectors will be selected for the creation of the LAQ label. These sectors will be accompanied in the analysis of their products, the identification of their specificities, and the definition of quality criteria. The project will also involve the elaboration of five cahiers des charges, which will be submitted to the National Committee for Labeling.
The project is expected to have a significant impact on the development of Algeria's bio agriculture sector. By establishing a local certification system and promoting the LAQ label, the project will help to increase the competitiveness of Algerian organic products on the local and international markets. The project will also contribute to the country's economic development by creating new opportunities for producers and exporters.
The launch of the project is a significant step towards achieving Algeria's goals in the area of bio agriculture. The country aims to increase its production of organic products and to promote them on the international market. The project will help to achieve these goals by providing a regulatory framework and a certification system for bio agriculture in Algeria.
Key points
- The project will be financed by the EU to the tune of one million euros and will run for 24 months.
