The Pacific Community (SPC) has launched a comprehensive handbook to advance the agroecological transition and support the growth of organic farming across the Pacific region. Aligned with the international organic standards and adapted to Pacific Agriculture, the handbook complements the Pacific Organic Standard (POS)—the regional standard to establish compliance for the Organic Pasifika label. Established in 2008 by SPC, the POS is managed by the Pacific Organic & Ethical Trade Community (POETCom), a network of 43 member organizations spanning 22 Pacific countries and territories.
A handbook to support a better understanding of the POS
This handbook serves as a resource for farmers, businesses and compliance auditors, offering technical support for meeting POS requirements in the field while respecting the diversity of agricultural, cultural and economic realities across all Pacific Countries and Territories.
The purpose of this guide is to clarify Pacific Organic Standard criteria that were identified as unclear or controversial by its users. This guide proposes:
« Clarifying Criteria: Providing explanations, contextualisation and detailed insights to enhance users understanding of key concepts and standards.
« Proposing Interpretations: Offering guidance on criteria that leave room for varying interpretations, empowering user groups to develop context-specific guidelines and helping compliance assessment.
This guide does not replace the POS official standard but acts as a supportive reference to facilitate its application in the field.
Who is this guide designed for?
This handbook is tailored to:
- Farmers or companies who want to understand and be inspired by POS standard.
- Farmers or companies wishing to obtain or renew their certification and to improve their compliance with the standard.
- Persons responsible for assessing compliance with the standard, who want to make sure they understand the meaning of POS criteria and have guidance on how to assess the standard.
- This publication was produced with the financial support of the European Union (11th regional European Development Fund) via the Pacific Territories Regional Project for Sustainable Ecosystem Management (PROTEGE) implemented by the Pacific Community in New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Wallis and Futuna.
Where to find it?
- Access it online in French: https://www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/Doc/CCES/Projects/PROTEGE_2018__2024/Agriculture/PROTEGE_Guide_NOAB_2024_FR.pdf
- Access it online in English: https://www.spc.int/DigitalLibrary/Doc/CCES/Projects/PROTEGE_2018__2024/Agriculture/PROTEGE_POS_Handbook_2024_EN.pdf
About POETCom
The Pacific Organic and Ethical Trade Community is the peak body for the organic movement in the region, a not-for-profit organisation with active members, farmer associations, farmer support organisations, NGOs, the private sector, research institutions and works with governments across the Pacific Island region. POETCom is hosted by the Land Resources Division (LRD) of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Suva, Fiji.
About the PROTEGE Project
The PROTEGE Project aims to foster sustainable and resilient development of the Pacific OCTs' economies in the face of climate change, leveraging biodiversity and renewable natural resources. PROTEGE is funded by the European Union's 11th European Development Fund regional allocation, with a budget of €36 million (equivalent to 4.3 billion CFP francs). It is implemented by the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for the benefit of New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna, and Pitcairn.
Contact
Vilimaina Tamata, Communications Assistant – POETCom, Land Resources Division (LRD), Pacific Community (SPC) | [email protected]
