Hefei: organic vegetables may not be "organic"

The reporter learned that organic product certification is expensive and the procedures are strict. However, the survey found that Hefei has no professional organic certification institutions, and most of the institutions on the market that claim to be able to carry out organic certification belong to "selling dog meat" and only provide guidance intermediary role.

Food is the most important thing for the people, and food safety has attracted much attention. In order to eat at ease, some citizens will choose "organic vegetables" specially. In major supermarkets and specialty stores, all kinds of organic vegetables often appear and are expensive. What exactly are organic vegetables? Are organic vegetables really organic? Is organic certification strictly true? The reporter learned that organic product certification is expensive and the procedures are strict. However, the survey found that Hefei has no professional organic certification institutions, and most of the institutions on the market that claim to be able to carry out organic certification belong to "selling dog meat" and only provide guidance intermediary role. Under the temptation of interests, organic certification also has false situations such as "going through the motions". Organic food is not completely credible, and citizens need to polish their eyes when purchasing organic food.

Organic vegetables are highly sought after

Zhang Hua, who lives in Qianshan Road, is a fan of organic vegetables. Every time she goes to the supermarket to buy vegetables, she buys vegetables in the organic vegetable buying area. "Now there are often food safety problems. We have old people in our family and children who have just been born. We want to give them a little peace of mind. Although organic vegetables are a little expensive, they have been certified by authorities. We can buy them safely and eat them safely."

Zhang Hua to reporters calculate a bill, The same small green vegetables, Ordinary varieties supermarket price 3 yuan a catty, Organic varieties will sell to 8 yuan, 9 yuan a catty, Even more than this price, So their family every month in vegetables spending will be 3 to 4 times more, But for these extra money, Zhang Hua is not very care,"Eat at ease, Heart will be comfortable." The reporter learned that in Hefei, consumers like Zhang Hua who pursue organic vegetables are not in the minority.

An ordinary cauliflower, supermarket price 3 yuan a catty, plus "organic" two words, the price will skyrocket, 8 yuan money, 10 yuan a catty are very common. "Organic vegetables are generally two to three times more expensive than ordinary vegetables, and sometimes five or six times is normal." Supermarket staff told reporters that organic vegetables are green, safe and nutritious, although expensive, but there is still a market.

Why organic vegetables sell at high prices? Hefei City Agriculture Committee related responsible person introduced, Organic vegetables compared with ordinary vegetables, Pollution-free vegetables, Green vegetables, Its quality grade is the highest. In the whole production process, it does not use pesticides, fertilizers, growth regulators and other chemical substances, nor does it use genetic technology. It is planted according to the requirements and standards of international organic agricultural production. At the same time, it must also undergo quality control and review by independent certification bodies. For example, no vehicles or factories can be located near organic farmland; since no chemicals can be used, organic vegetables are grown by physical means (fluorescent insect repellent lamps or artificial insects).

It is precisely because organic vegetables are grown to high standards that their prices are high. In addition, the reporter understands, some organic vegetable sales channel is to develop membership system, target object is high-income crowd, regular side dish delivery door. "Now that people's living standards are getting higher and higher, there is more and more concern about food safety. Many people are willing to spend money on food. Even if the price of organic vegetables is higher, there will be a market." Hefei an agricultural product sales enterprise responsible person told reporters.

The organic certification process requires a strict conversion period

The popularity of organic vegetables has a lot to do with the strict certification process for organic products. Ordinary vegetables need to go through a rigorous and cumbersome certification process to become organic vegetables.

The reporter learned from the official website of the National Certification and Accreditation Supervision Committee that there is a strict process for organic product certification. The producers and operators must first produce and operate according to the relevant standards of organic agricultural products; Then organize the application materials to apply to the certification body; The body first conducts a round of audit, and if the audit passes, it will sign an inspection contract with the operator; Then the certification body will send people to inspect on the spot to see whether the product quality of the base meets the standards, etc., and form a report; Finally, the certification body decides whether to approve the certification based on the report. Organic product certification inspectors conducting on-site inspections shall be trained, tested, interviewed and registered with the China Certification and Accreditation Association (CCAA).

Hefei City Agriculture Committee related responsible person introduced, Vegetables become organic vegetables, Not a success, This also needs a conversion period. For organic products, there is a conversion period, and the regulation of the conversion period is to ensure the "purity" of organic products. For example, if a farm that has used pesticides or fertilizers wants to be converted into an organic farm, it must establish an effective management system according to the requirements of organic standards, and it will take 2 to 3 years to formally become an organic farm after stopping the use of chemical synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Products produced during conversion can only be referred to as "organic conversion products". However, in the market, we can see some agricultural products, directly labeled organic food, there is no concept of conversion period,"some agricultural products enterprises lack understanding of the concept of organic products, lack of professionalism." Industry insiders introduced.

Certification bodies vary "with moisture"

Organic vegetables need certification, which also gave birth to the development of domestic organic product certification agencies. The reporter learned that there are 23 institutions approved to carry out organic product certification and 25 institutions that can carry out organic product certification consultation. These latest information can be inquired on the official website of the National Certification and Inspection Commission. However, the reporter learned a strange phenomenon on the Internet, that is, there are various organic product certification bodies on the Internet, all kinds of certification bodies can carry out organic certification under the name, for this kind of business can also undertake. Reporters inquired on the network, Hefei also has a number of certification agencies advertising that can undertake organic product certification business.

On the grounds of the need for organic certification, the reporter consulted two third-party certification bodies in Hefei and Nanjing. According to the staff, the certification fee for organic certificates is about 40,000 yuan, depending on the variety and quantity of certification. The reporter asked whether the other party has the relevant organic certification qualifications, the staff admitted that they are mainly responsible for the guidance of organic certification, as well as contact authoritative certification bodies for certification, until certificates can be issued. "to put it bluntly, it is an intermediary service agency. if you pay, we will make sure that you can certify organic products." The staff told the reporter that 30% to 40% of the fee of 40,000 yuan was responsible for the certificate.

As for when it can be obtained, the staff told the reporter that it would take two or three months at the earliest, depending on the scale and variety of the certification.

For the staff's answer, the reporter consulted industry insiders, industry insiders said that in two or three months, even the normal certification procedures can not be completed, it can be seen that such a "super-fast" certification, there is a certain degree of moisture.

There are a variety of certification intermediaries, and certification agencies also have the phenomenon of good and bad intermingled. The reporter also contacted some certification organizations on the grounds of the need for certification, and found that some organizations, in order to attract business, indicated that they could recommend cooperative units, that is, intermediary agencies, to complete some key tests of certification, such as soil, atmosphere, and so on. "it takes less time, and the price is negotiable."

Organic certification is expensive.

For organic vegetable certification, some agricultural producers flock to it, while others say that organic certification is a waste of money and money, and can not be completed by ordinary small enterprises.

Shan Weifeng, the head of a farm in Sangang, told reporters that the duration of organic certified agricultural products is only one year. For organic fruits and vegetables, the growth conditions of agricultural products may change in each season, such as whether pesticides are used, whether the seed situation has changed, or even whether the natural environment around agricultural products has changed, such as the construction of chemical plants around agricultural products. "there are too many unpreventable factors, and the most important thing is that the price of organic certification is not cheap, for agricultural enterprises with low profits, the pressure is too great."

The reporter learned that the period of validity of organic certification is generally one year, and crops harvested many times a year should be re-examined every time they are harvested, and each time they are reinspected, growers have to pay inspection fees to testing institutions again, and if growers want to additional test varieties, the cost will increase accordingly. This fee is indeed a lot of money for agricultural enterprises.

"the high cost of testing is on the one hand, and on the other hand, for this certification, we people in this industry know very well that in fact, stringent procedures are needed. At present, there are a wide variety of intermediary agencies that do not have certification qualifications in society. In fact, this is not a healthy way for the development of organic products." Shan Weifeng told reporters that rather than spending a lot of money on organic certification, they are more inclined to take the money, use better technology to prevent and control, and develop green fruits and vegetables.

The true and false can be distinguished by organic code.

For ordinary people, how can we judge whether vegetables are organic? On this issue, the reporter consulted experts in agriculture. According to a person in charge of the Hefei Municipal Committee of Agriculture, although the residues of pesticides and chemical fertilizers in organic vegetables are much lower than those in ordinary vegetables, it is difficult to separate the two in appearance and taste, and sometimes organic vegetables even sell worse.

However, due to the high price and the complexity of certification and quality control procedures, the marketing channels of organic vegetables are different from those of ordinary vegetables. The State Commission of Accreditation and Supervision recommends that consumers had better buy organic vegetables at organic stores, large shopping malls and supermarkets, and try not to buy organic vegetables at farmers' markets, wholesale markets or unreliable websites.

In addition, consumers should pay attention to the identification of organic certification marks and organic codes when purchasing organic products. They can inquire whether the enterprise has obtained the certificate and the authenticity of the certification certificate through the "China Food and Agricultural products Certification Information system", and inquire the authenticity of the product through the organic code.