PAC joins forces with PTB to train assessors for Organic Agriculture
by PAC Secretariat
The Pacific Accreditation Cooperation (PAC) recognises assessor training as an important tool to support PAC objectives. The Developing Programs Committee (DPC) of PAC aims to support the establishment of new accreditation programs in the Asia-Pacific region through appropriate training. Regional training courses for PAC members strengthen the MLA, contribute to the harmonization of accreditation procedures and support the development of member ABs.
Since 2009, PAC joined forces with PTB International Technical Cooperation to provide training for assessors, especially from developing countries. Part of PTBīs mission is to assist the establishment of a quality infrastructure (QI) including metrology, accreditation, standards, testing and certification in developing countries throughout the region. Projects are financed within the framework of German development aid.
To support the development of the national quality infrastructure bodies, PTB closely cooperates with regional organizations like PAC. The regional organizations play a special role for the ABs from developing countries, and they provide the link and access to the international system, foster regional integration and serve as platforms for collaborations and knowledge transfer.
In 2010 the first joint assessor training program of PAC and PTB started in the area of organic agriculture, a field of special interest to developing countries. The program aims to build up competencies in the ABs from scratch through a series of workshops integrated in an online training program designed by the GfRS, a consultant company from Germany specialized in agriculture and food. The first workshop took place in Bangkok in 2010. A second workshop in Beijing was hosted by CNAS in August 2011, the third one is scheduled for February 2012 in India. In between, training is continued through an online platform. A chat room can be used by the participants to exchange experience.
The training mainly focuses on the new import system on the EU-Regulation on Organic Farming as an example, but other standards such as the Canadian Organic Regime and JAS are introduced and discussed as well. The objective is to provide participants with the essential skills for the area of organic agriculture rather than to focus on one particular standard. After the training, participants should be able to develop an accreditation scheme for any standard in the field. Therefore, priority is given to case studies, practical exercises and hands-on training through visits at farms and certification bodies.
The long-term training combined with online training, classroom sessions and excursion provides a sustainable learning experience and establishes a network for mutual support between the participants - a training concept to be continued for other areas as well.
For further information is available on the PAC website.
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