Question & AnswerQ&A (EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 481)
The main objective of Executive Order No. 481 is to promote and develop organic agriculture in the Philippines, ensuring food and environmental safety through an ecological approach to farming, and maintaining the integrity of organic products through certification and standards.
The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture serves as the Chairperson of the National Organic Agriculture Board (NOAB).
The NOAB formulates policies, plans, programs, and projects to promote organic agriculture; oversees implementation; calls on government agencies for program execution; engages private sectors and organizations for advice; identifies financing sources; and submits periodic reports to the Office of the President.
The departments represented in the NOAB are: Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Health, Interior and Local Government, Environment and Natural Resources, and Science and Technology.
The NTC acts as the implementing arm of the NOAB, responsible for executing approved organic agriculture programs, updating the board on progress, networking with stakeholders, and performing other necessary functions.
Organic certification must comply with the Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture (PNS/BAFPS 07:2003 ICS.65.020) and must be accredited by certifying bodies authorized by the Department of Agriculture in accordance with Administrative Order 13 Series of 2003.
Members appointed to the NOAB serve for a term of 3 years and cannot serve consecutive terms unless their original term was less than 3 years.
An initial amount of not less than Five Million Pesos (P5,000,000.00) was allocated from the Department of Agriculture's budget, with possible supplementation from the Presidential Social Fund for the first year.
Organic products must comply with the labeling requirements of the Philippine National Standard for Organic Agriculture and include additional contents prescribed specifically by this Executive Order to ensure authenticity and consumer information.
If any provision is declared invalid, the remainder of the Executive Order shall remain in full force and effect as per the separability clause.