Certification and legalities
Posted: 18 Jul 2007, 11:36
It seems that there are problems throughout the world in getting these potenitsed remedies through the legal process. I have heard recently from India and we have had to dance and weave to get through in the UK.
The process to getting them approved as inputs to organic and biodynamic land is negotiated in the UK. Currently in NZ things seem fairly straightforward but this may be made to follow the tricky route for the UK and Australia.
It is a strange thing - the remedies are 'just water' for the majority of the world but they are not going to ban irrigation. But add 10ml of this water to a Ha and it needs regulating. This is part of the dilemma that the powers that be face.
To meet the EU's PPPR we need to demonstrate efficacy and show that there are no unintended side effects. This costs around £50,000 per preparation. We have been advised to fly under the radar by avoiding any claims and so we are condemned to the vague language of those who really are trying to hoodwink buyers. Alternatively we can say that all effects are due to fertlilising activity of the ingredients. These then can bypass the laws. In Germany and Austria there is a scheme for preparations which are considered unable to cause harm but this is not EU-wide thing.
I hope that this site can go some way to stimulating interest amongst those who can afford to invest in such testing, or to provide enough interest so that the academic fraternity stop ignoring it.
You would think that a non-toxic form of agriculture is just what the world needs at the moment and it would be falling over itself to embrace our work.
That is the situation we find ourselves in and it is the one we must face. Keep doing the great research and we will see if we cannot put pressure on the powers that be to let us work and trade for the greater good.
The process to getting them approved as inputs to organic and biodynamic land is negotiated in the UK. Currently in NZ things seem fairly straightforward but this may be made to follow the tricky route for the UK and Australia.
It is a strange thing - the remedies are 'just water' for the majority of the world but they are not going to ban irrigation. But add 10ml of this water to a Ha and it needs regulating. This is part of the dilemma that the powers that be face.
To meet the EU's PPPR we need to demonstrate efficacy and show that there are no unintended side effects. This costs around £50,000 per preparation. We have been advised to fly under the radar by avoiding any claims and so we are condemned to the vague language of those who really are trying to hoodwink buyers. Alternatively we can say that all effects are due to fertlilising activity of the ingredients. These then can bypass the laws. In Germany and Austria there is a scheme for preparations which are considered unable to cause harm but this is not EU-wide thing.
I hope that this site can go some way to stimulating interest amongst those who can afford to invest in such testing, or to provide enough interest so that the academic fraternity stop ignoring it.
You would think that a non-toxic form of agriculture is just what the world needs at the moment and it would be falling over itself to embrace our work.
That is the situation we find ourselves in and it is the one we must face. Keep doing the great research and we will see if we cannot put pressure on the powers that be to let us work and trade for the greater good.