3.4.1 Criteria of certifiers

The precautionary principle is an especially strong concept in Europe (as opposed to the caveat emptor approach often found elsewhere) and often has been used as a guiding principle to constrain the use of pesticides. 

There is no reason why the precautionary principle cannot be consistent with GAP, and leading proponents in Europe for this approach (as opposed to organic agriculture) are a group of national organisations linked by the European Initiative for Sustainable development in Agriculture (EISA - www.sustainable-agriculture.org).

Potential users should understand the criteria by which GAP – and particularly SPS standards – are evaluated by certification schemes. 

Decision-making may have been influenced by other organisations and pressure groups such as the ISEAL Alliance (www.isealalliance.org) and the Pesticide Action Network (PAN: www.pan-europe.info, www.panna.org), who contribute to the compilation of “prohibited” or “banned” pesticide lists. 

Unfortunately, certain lists have recently included substances that are actually permitted for use in both cocoa-producing and OECD countries, and conflate controversial (but permitted) products with obsolete and other highly hazardous pesticides.

Certifiers therefore risk sending ‘mixed messages’ to growers, with recent cases of efforts to “ban” important MoA groups, without identifying effective, viable, alternative pest management techniques. 

The ECA/CAOBISCO Pesticides Working Group has argued that it is crucial to coordinate with and strengthen the activities of relevant Regulatory Authorities – which are the only competent and legal entities actually able to ban harmful substances.