G/TBT/N/TPKM/225  
 
8 December 2015  
(15-6478)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member: THE SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF TAIWAN, PENGHU, KINMEN 
AND MATSU 
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):  
2. Agency responsible: 
Agriculture and Food Agency (AFA) 
Council of Agriculture 8,Kuang-Hua Road 
Chung-Hsing New Village 
Nantou, 54044 Taiwan Tel: (886-49) 2332-380 ext 2429 Fax: (886-49) 234-1092  
E-mail: hsiuhui@mail.afa.gov.tw   
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above : 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10 .1 [ ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [ ], other: 
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applic able, otherwise national tariff heading. 
ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Organic agricultural 
products. Agriculture (ICS: 65) 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Draft of the 
Organic Agriculture Act (9 pages, in Chinese) 
6. Description of content: To maintain the ecological balance, enhance the quality of 
organic agricultural products, improve the pub lic health and protect consumer rights, the 
AFA intends to promulgate "The Organic Agricu lture Act" ( hereinafter "the Act"). The Act 
will come into effect one year after adopte d by Taiwan Legislative Yuan, and the AFA will 
propose implementing measures based on the Act.  
Organic agriculture is an important part of th e sustainable circulation system of the nature 
and also the key production method for providing safe source of food. For this reason many countries in the world deem organic agriculture as a national green industry policy 
and provide support and management through legislation. Currently the management of 
Taiwan's organic agriculture relies on the provisions related to production of agricultural products and the certification management regulations. Although Taiwan stipulates explicit regulations governing the requirements for organic production process, certification 
management, and the penalties for organic agricultural product inspections, Taiwan is also 
facing challenges for changes in the environment of domestic agricultural production, rigorous requirements for quality from organic consumers, and discretions over the 
product trade regulations for international organic equivalence. 
The Act is drafted with 41 articles to promote the sustainable development of Taiwan's 
organic agriculture and improve the quality of organic agricultural products, in order to 
maintain national health, take consideration of the interest and rights of producers and G/TBT/N/TPKM/225 
 
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  consumers, and achieve the objectives in organic ecology of environment, farmers' organic 
production, and the organic live of consumers. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable: Protection of the environment; Prevention of deceptive practices and 
consumer protection  
8. Relevant documents: – 
9. Proposed date of adoption: To be determined 
Proposed date of entry into force: One year after the legislative adoption and 
announcement   
10. Final date for comments: 60 days from notification 
11. Texts available from: Nati onal enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available, of other body:  
TPKM – WTO/TBT Enquiry Point 
Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection 
Ministry of Economic Affairs 
No.4, Sec. 1, Jinan Rd. Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 100, Taiwan 
Tel: (886-2) 33435191 
Fax: (886-2) 23431804 E-mail: tbtenq@bsmi.gov.tw   
http://www.afa.gov.tw/organic Agriculture.as px?CatID=809   
https://members.wto.org/crnattachm ents/2015/TBT/CHT/15_4844_00_x.pdf