Rules and comparisons on the net

Organic standards databases are now available online at
www.oekoregelungen.de and www.organicrules.org. The former came into
operation on 10 October 2005; the latter, which is part of the European
Organic Revision project, is still being filled with information on
differences between European organic standards and the EU Regulation
2092/91. The website found at www.oekoregelungen.de – which is part of
the Central Internet Portal (www.oekolandbau.de) – provides information
on organic regulations, private standards, logos and inspection bodies
from most European countries. It also includes information on standards
from South Africa, the United States and Argentina. The main language
of the website is German. The objective of the database on
www.organicrules.org is to: * Create an overview of differences between
the EU Regulation and other private organic standards and state
regulations. * Contribute to the development of the EU Regulation and
other organic standards (e.g. Codex Alimentarius) and IFOAM Basic
Standards. * Form a basis for communication and discussion with
stakeholders on EU Regulations in relation to organic values and
principles, and harmonisation and regionalisation of organic standards.
Already, 85 differences or comparisons have been uploaded. For more
information please visit www.organic-europe.net/default.asp and
www.organicrules.org/<br><i>Source of information:</i> Organic Europe and Organic Rules, in «The Organic Standard», n. 55, p. 15.