IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM FOR TRAINING

IMPLEMENTATION OF A QUALITY ASSURANCE SYSTEM FOR TRAINING IN ORGANIC FOOD RETAIL – ECOQUALIFY III (Work Package 2) FRAMEWORK ANALYSIS REPORT – Romania - 2011 P 6 - Eco. R Partener CRPMPEC Plovdiv 29 th, 2011, April 28 th -

Table of content • 1. Short presentation of organic sector current state of organic agriculture in Romania • 2. The current state of organic food retailing • 3. Training need analysis of beneficiaries interested in organic food retailing • 4. Available training programs and courses

Brief history of organic farming in Romania • • • 1992 – first trial / plot in organic agriculture 1997 – establishment of the first organic association Bioterra in Cluj 2000 - first legal framework Gov Ordinance 34/ 2000 2001 – within Ministry of Agriculture – office for organic farming 2002 – National Federation for Organic Farming 2003 – national legal framework harmonized with EU legislation 2004 – first national inspection and certification bodies 2005 – first time – support for organic farming 2006 – national logo “ae” 2007 – 2009 – rapid and continuous evolution 2010 – Eco. R Partener is founded

Actual legal framework - EU organic legal framework is adopted since 2007 - National specific legal framework (most important) - ORDER nr. 252 from 2010 to amend Order of the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Development no. 219/2007 for approving the rules on registration of operators in organic farming - ORDER-No. Rules 417/110/2002 approving specific labeling of organic products with subsequent amendments - ORDER-No. 65/2010 for approving the regulations on inspection and certification system, approving the inspection and certification bodies Supervision and inspection bodies - Order of the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry and the president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection to allow imports of organic products from third countries 4

Organic sector structure Minsitry of Agriculture – Division for organic farming Regsitration Annual and 6 months report County Directions for Agriculture Control Approval Inspection and certification bodies Organisme Naționale de acreditare Inspection Farm or processing unit Certification 5

Organic producers and surfaces in organic farming evolution Indicator 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010* Number of registered organic operators 3409 3834 4191 3228 4322 143. 194 190. 129 221. 41 1 240. 000 260. 000 1 1 1, 5 1, 7 1, 86 The area cultivated in organic farming, crops on arable land (ha) 45605 65112 86454 110014, 4 129336 The area cultivated in organic farming, permanent crops (ha) grassland meadow 51200 57600 46006, 5 39232, 8 46000 Certified organic farming area, permanent crops (ha) of orchards and vineyards 294 954 1518 1869, 4 3600 38700 58728 81279 88883, 4 81064 Total organic area (ha) Share of cultivated land in organic farming in total agricultural area (%) Collection of spontaneous plnts (ha)

Terminology and Identification (Regl. (CE) no. 834/2007) “, , organic”/, , biologic” /, , ecologic” (Annex la R(CE) nr. 834/2007) In Romania used term , , ecologic” 7

Organic farming dynamics Source: Minsitry of AGriculture registration

Crop structure in organic farming Cereals = 80, 000 ha (18%), oilseeds and protein = 42, 000 ha (14%), permanent pasture and forage crops 30, 000 ha (20%), collection and certification of plants and flowers from the spontaneous flora 59, 000 ha Source: MAD Register 9

Organic surface structure evolution 10

Number of registered operators in organic farming 2006 -2009 11

Number of operators by counties >700 200 -700 100 -199 60 -99 40 -59 20 -39 <20 SV MS BC, TL, I L AB, SB, BV, C T, BH, HD, HR, IS, BR MM, SJ, BN, CJ, AR, TM, GJ, AG, TR, PH, VN SM, BT. NT, VS, GL, CV, CS, MH, DJ, OT, VL, DB, IF, GR, BZ 12

Organic products available on the market • Products of Plant Origin: fresh fruits and vegetables, dried fruits and nuts, vegetables, Cereals, Oil seeds, Spices, oil plants, medicinal and aromatic plants, etc • Processed Products: Bread, Baked products, Wine from organic grapes, fruit juices, milk and diary products , Fruit juices, sunflower oil, jams / marmalades, processed soy products, pasta, herbal teas, pastries, • Products of Animal Origin: Milk, Eggs, Oils, meat products, Honey

Organic processors Number of processors in 2009: 74 Out of which Processors by sectors 2009 - 48 in vegetal production - 9 in animal producs - 17 in apiculture 14

Processed products Sheep cheese Schweitzer Sheep cheese Yellow cheese Honey Sursa: Inregistrare MADR 15

Other organic processed products sunflower oil cold pressed fruit juices processed soy products Pasta herbal teas processed products from snails Pastries Confectionery processed pork products Processed products from hamp Wine from organic grapes Vegetable processed products 16

Inspection and certification bodies approved by Ministry of Agriculture -2 national inspection and certification body ( SC ECOINSPECT SRL and CERTROM SRL ) + 14 branches or subsidiaries of EU certification bodies approved by Ministry of Agriculture: BCS ÖKO-GARANTIE ROM NIA S. R. L; QC&I S. R. L , S. C SUOLO e SALUTE S. R. L , ICEA ROMANIA S. R. L , S. C ECOCERT S. R. L, BIOS S. R. L ITALIA SUCURSALA ROM NIA, LACÓN PRIVATE INSTITUTE FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, S. C IMO CONTROL SRL, CERES HAPPURG GMBH, AGRECO R. F GÖDERZ GMBH GERMANIA SUCURSALA ROM NIA, BIOAGRICERT ITALIA SRL SUCURSALA ROM NIA, CERTIFICATION SERVICES INTERNATIONAL CSI GMBH GERMANIA SUCURSALA ROM NIA, AUSTRIA BIO GARANTIE S. R. L SUCURSALA ROM NIA ECOGRUPPO – SUCURSALA BUCURESTI A ECOCERT ITALIA SRL Each of them has a unique identification code RO – ECO - xxx 17

Organic products market An emerging domestic market estimated at about EUR 20 million (in 2009) with a constant increase. Distribution channels: - Wholesales in stores - farm-gate sales - Sales in natural and healthy products shops - on-line sales through stock - hyper and supermarkets - Specialised organic shops - home delivery services 18

Results from questionnaires analysis

Dynamics of organic products trading 140000 cereals 120000 Cantitate (to) Oil and proteic plants 100000 80000 60000 Spontaneous flower and fruits Milk processed products honey 40000 Sun flower oil 20000 0 Other products 2006 2007 2008 Total 2006=62. 115 to 2007=99. 356 to 2008=129. 770 to • Share 2008 cereals (54 %) -oil plants (22 %) - spontaneous flora collection (20%) - processed milk products 1 %) -honey 2007 (0, 94%) -other products (2, 06), Main export markets: Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Denmark, UK Perspective: U. S. market penetration Sursa: Comunicari comercianti 20

Training need analysis of beneficiaries interested in organic food retailing Producers Topics are: • Organic Agriculture • Organic food production • Organic products labeling • Processing requirements training in basic organic production and processing methods is required Training tools • face to face training • printed materials • on job training and short seminars

Training need analysis of beneficiaries interested in organic food retailing

Training need analysis of beneficiaries interested in organic food retailing Retailers Topics are: Training tools • organic agriculture in general • face to face training • trade in Organic Agriculture • Organic food production • other topics, communication skills, nutrition science • printed materials

Conclusion • Romanian organic sector is dynamic and in continuous development • Increasing of internal market • A big demand from consumers • Highest priority: conversion of conventional farms to organic methods 25

Action plan Producers/processors • problem - lack of information related to organic production but mostly to organic processing requirements and trading of organic products (legal framework, labeling, distribution channels and selling materials) • solution: - seminars and informative materials on how to produce organic products and how to successful sale organic products on internal market. Retailers • problem - lack of information related to organic agriculture methods and organic trade. There is lack of knowledge also related to organic food production legal requirements. • solution: - producing of qualitative, standardized informative materials (flyers and booklets) but also organizing face to face courses Consumers, stakeholders and decision makers • problem - lack of information related to organic agriculture in general. Problems related with trust in “made in Romania” organic products and inspection services, confusion with traditional/natural/healthy products. • solution: - informative campaign related to EU rules for organic production with a clear, distinct and impressive message, training of mass media factors in organic concept, increasing the visibility of Ministry of Agriculture as a key and correct factor in control of the certification bodies activities, campaign for clarification of the difference between the mentioned products and organic products. Continuous formation of the youngest consumers from kindergarten to universities even not related to agriculture.

Eco. R Partener Motto: Excellence in organic agriculture by partnership and professionalism - the key to success in business • Eco. R established in The Board team 2010 • Founder members – executive responsabilities • Goal - promoting excellence in the sale of certified organic products

Eco. R Partener International network www. o-r-a. org www. avalon. nl www. ifoam. org www. ifoam-eu. org

Eco. R Partener National network • FNAE Federatia Nationala de Agricultura Ecologica – Romania www. fnae. ro • BIOTERRA Asociatia Bio. Agricultorilor din ROMANIA – Cluj-Napoca www. bioterra. org. ro • ADFR – Asociatia de Dezvoltare a Fermierilor din Romania • CNIPMMR www. cnipmmr. ro • Ministrul Economiei, Comerţului şi Mediului de Afaceri http: //www. minind. ro

Eco. R Partener Events 2010 -11 • Organic Romania: International Forum for organic business Sibiu November 2010 - Eco. Konnect • Bio. Fach Targul Mondial de Ecologie Nürnberg Germania Februarie 2011

2. Eco. R Partener 2. 4 Evenimente 2010 -11

Projects in implementation developed by Eco. R Eco. Qualify III project - "Implementing a Quality Assurance System for training of certified organic products retailers' Goal: development of a standardized qualification system for organic retailers (owners and sellers) Target group: - organic farmers - organic food retailers - processors of organic products Period Start 2010 – end 2012 Bulgarian partners: Higher School “Agricultural College”, Prof. Dr. Mariana Ivanova Eurocentre - Land Environment, Prof. Dr. Vladislav Popov

Other projects • organic farms school type (South school organic farm - Constanta in collaboration with the Association and Eng Alexe Niculai Bio. Kreis Center and organic farm school - Cluj Napoca • materials (publications, videos, DVD) with practical aspects of crop / processing and marketing of organic products ; • development of private standard "Eco. R Partner" for organic business to be recognized by similar organizations. The ultimate goal is to achieve a higher degree of recognition of the organic sector in Romania and confidence in the products and manufacturers certified under this standard in Romania, • "Travel packages - Organic trip" in collaboration with City Tours & Events (www. city-tours-events. ro) in EU countries (Austria, Germany, France, Greece) • Economic missions development for organic producers and processors (Emirates, Canada and Japan – 2011)

Thank you for your attention Eco. R Partener Team www. ecor. ro Tel: 0212102124 Fax: 031 8171136 Email: info@ecor. ro