Cheng Kung University's organic certification household status recognized as valid by the Agriculture and Food Agency; Leezen restores products to shelves

In the wake of the storm over the invalidation of Cheng Kung University's organic certification, which affected farmers' right to keep their products on shelves, the Council of Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Agency said today (the 10th) that the qualifications of producers who passed Cheng Kung University's organic certification before March 2, 2015 remain valid. Leezen, the largest organic retailer in the country, today put the previously withdrawn Cheng Kung-certified products back on its shelves. Outside observers have asked whether Cheng Kung University can still carry out unannounced audits after its certification qualification has lapsed. The Agriculture and Food Agency said Cheng Kung University is currently still willing to do so, and that if it lacks the capacity, the agency will step in on its own initiative.

"As a retailer, consumers' rights come first." Han Jingbai explained, but the products taken off shelves that day on the 8th were not returned to the farmers; instead, a check was first carried out to determine whether shipment times fell before or after March 1. Later, after the Council of Agriculture issued its statement, the products were restored to shelves as quickly as possible out of consideration for farmers' rights. If similar disputes arise in the future, consumers' rights will still take priority.

Agriculture and Food Agency: Cheng Kung University still willing to keep seeking organic certification qualification

Su Maoxiang, chief secretary of the Council of Agriculture's Agriculture and Food Agency, said that organic certification bodies like Cheng Kung University conduct regular follow-ups and unannounced audits of the farms of farmers and certified households, with the latter selected for inspection from high to low according to the risk level of the certified household. But after losing its certification qualification on March 2 this year, can Cheng Kung University still carry out unannounced audit duties?

Since Cheng Kung University very much hopes to secure the certification qualification for the next period, "it still does what it is supposed to do," Su Maoxiang said. In early May, as soon as suspicions about pesticides in deer roselle (Luoshenhua) emerged, Cheng Kung University sent people to look into it. But if it is later confirmed that Cheng Kung University cannot obtain the certification qualification, "the Agriculture and Food Agency will take the initiative to send people to handle it."

Under the current production quality control for organic farms, the system relies on three-way cooperation: self-management by certified households, gatekeeping by certification bodies, and the Agriculture and Food Agency. But Su Maoxiang still stressed that self-management by operators is the most important thing: "You cannot always rely on spot checks by certification bodies and only correct things after being caught." Producers must genuinely operate according to organic standard procedures; and at the end-product stage, the Agriculture and Food Agency will also conduct spot checks.

Leezen: Consumers' rights come first, but farmers' rights are also taken into account

After the Agriculture and Food Agency established the principle that "the qualification of certified households exists, and organic products are still organic," Leezen spokesperson Han Jingbai said the company therefore decided to put the previously removed Cheng Kung-certified products back on shelves. He also said the company will conduct checks using information provided by the Council of Agriculture to ensure the products come from valid organic farms.

"As a retailer, consumers' rights come first." Han Jingbai explained, but the products taken off shelves that day on the 8th were not returned to the farmers; instead, a check was first carried out to determine whether shipment times fell before or after March 1. Later, after the Council of Agriculture issued its statement, the products were restored to shelves as quickly as possible out of consideration for farmers' rights. If similar disputes arise in the future, consumers' rights will still take priority.

As for whether Cheng Kung University failed to obtain a new round of certification qualification because of insufficient audit manpower or a high rate of failed pesticide residue tests, Su Maoxiang said the agency will look into it and will also review the situation of other certification bodies. Since Cheng Kung University is still seeking qualification, if it is later confirmed that it cannot obtain it, a dedicated program will be set up to assist the transfer of its 186 certified households.

The Cheng Kung University incident highlights the legal chaos of the organic "window period"; Cheng Kung University changes its tune: Sorry for harming farmers' rights