July 7, 2014

Newsletter
the healthy & natural Lebanese alternative
Call for action
As part of our responsibility to develop and maintain the organic sector in
Lebanon, Al Marej Organic Food team calls for the establishment of the
Lebanese National Organic Coalition a national alliance of organizations
working to provide a Voice for farmers, breeders, environmentalists, animal
welfare activists, consumers and industry members involved in organic
agriculture.

The proposed central principle of the Coalition (LNOC) is to protect the
integrity of the national organic sector by:

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Raising consumers awareness
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Promoting consumption of organic products
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Creating central organic farmers markets in all the Lebanese regions
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Assisting in the provision of farming inputs to help the producers in managing
their farms organically
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Creating a consultancy service for organic farmers through the Ministry of
Agriculture, to help raise the value of the production and reduce the related
costs
!
Implementing the Law of Organic Agriculture in Lebanon, which protects both
the consumer and the farmer and controls the certifying agencies and
companies
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Assisting the organic farmers nancially so that they can sustain organic
farming and encouraging others to convert their land to organic farming
!
Helping the farmer to bear the cost of the certicate, at least during the
transition period
!
Creating overseas markets for Lebanese organic products, which is a
characteristic of Lebanon compared to the regions (apples, bananas,
processed products and other traditional ...).
To those interested in
collaborating for the creation of
the LNOC please send an email
with a letter of intent explaining
the reason you would like to join
and how you can help
Attention Elizabeth Rebeiz
almarej.organicfood@gmail.com
Why organic certification is crucial
In order to secure the FOUR FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF ORGANIC
AGRICULTURE in Lebanon we need to support a transparent, fair and credible
system of CERTIFICATION and labelling designed to protect producers of organic
produce against misrepresentation of other agricultural produce as being organic. It
contributes To protect consumers against deception and fraud and unsubstantiated
product claims. It ensures that all stages of production, preparation, storage,
transport and marketing are subject to inspection and comply with guidelines. It also
allows for international guidelines for organic food control systems in order to
facilitate recognition of national systems as equivalent for the purposes of imports
and exports. It maintains and enhances organic agricultural systems in the country.
Certication is the procedure by which o"cially
recognized certication bodies, provide written
assurance that food or food control systems conform
to requirements. Certication of food may be, as
appropriate, based on a range of inspection activities
which may include regular inspection, auditing of
quality assurance systems and examination of
nished products
Certication body means a body which is
responsible for verifying that a product sold or
labelled as "organic" is produced, processed,
prepared handled, and imported or exported
according to these guidelines.
Inspection is the examination of food or systems
for control of food, raw materials, processing, and
distribution including in#process and nished
product testing, in order to verify that they conform
to requirements. For organic food, inspection
includes the examination of the production and
processing system.
O"cial accreditation is the procedure by which
a government agency having jurisdiction formally
recognizes the competence of an inspection and/or
certication body to provide inspection and
certication services. In Lebanon the competent
authority # the Ministry of Agriculture delegates the
accreditation function to 2 private bodies.
Principle of health
Organic agriculture should be
based on living ecological systems
and cycles, working, emulating
and helping sustain them.
Principle of ecology
Organic agriculture should sustain
and enhance the health of soil,
plant, animal, human and planet
as one and indivisible.
Principle of fairness
Organic agriculture should be
managed in a precautionary and
responsible manner to protect the
health and well-being of current
and future generations and the
environment.
Principle of care
Organic agriculture should build
on relationships that ensure
fairness with regard to common
environment and life
July 7, 2014

An organic production system is designed to enhance biological diversity and
promote the healthy use of soil within the whole system. It increases soil biological
activity, it maintains long-term soil fertility and recycles wastes of plant and animal
origin in order to return nutrients to the land. It minimizes the use of non-
renewable resources and helps curb pollution that may result from conventional
agricultural practices.
Foods should be referred to as
organic production if they come
from an organic farm employing
pest management practices
which seek to nurture
ecosystems, and provide control
through a mix of mutually
dependent life forms, recycling
plant and animal residues, crop
selection and
rotation, water
management,
land preparation
and cultivation.
Pest and disease
management is
attained by
means of the
encouragement of a balanced
host/predator relationship,
increase of benecial insect
populations, biological and
cultural control and mechanical
removal of pests and a#ected
plant parts.

Soil fertility and conservation of
soil resources are enhanced by
a system which optimises soil
biological activity and the
physical and mineral nature of the
soil. Production should be
sustainable with the recycling of
plant nutrients as an essential
part of the fertilizing strategy.

The basis for organic livestock
husbandry is the development of
a harmonious relationship
between land, plants
and livestock, and
respect for the
physiological and
behavioural needs of
livestock. This is
achieved by a
combination of
providing good quality
organically grown feedstu#s,
appropriate stocking rates,
livestock husbandry systems
appropriate to behavioural needs,
and animal management
practices that minimize stress
and seek to promote animal
health and welfare, prevent
disease and avoid the use of
chemical allopathic veterinary
drugs (including antibiotics).
July 7, 2014

Address
Achraeh, Abdel Wahab el Inglizi Street, Beirut Lebanon
+961 1 210 211
almarej.organicfood@gmail.com
FB Al Marej Organic Food Store
www.almarejorganicfood@wordpress.com
PUT ONLY THE BEST ON YOUR PLATE
July 7, 2014