Comparative Analysis of the Legal Frameworks for Organic Production in the Southern Cone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.33240/rba.v21i2.59014Keywords:
Participatory certification, Comparative legislation, Agroecology, Food sovereignty, Regulatory frameworksAbstract
Organic agriculture has become increasingly relevant in the Southern Cone, contributing to sustainability, food sovereignty, and access to specialized markets. This study aims to compare the legal frameworks regulating organic production in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Chile. A qualitative and descriptive methodology was adopted, based on documentary analysis of national legislation, certification systems, and international agreements. Data were collected from official sources and analyzed across six dimensions: legal structure, definitions, certification, regulation of inputs and seeds, inspection systems, and international equivalence. Results show that all countries prohibit GMOs, restrict synthetic inputs, and require certification. Brazil and Paraguay stand out for recognizing participatory guarantee systems and encouraging heirloom seed use. Differences remain in certification types, inspection practices, and alignment with global trade norms. While Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay maintain formal equivalence agreements, Brazil and Paraguay are pursuing distinct bilateral strategies. The study concludes that regulatory harmonization must respect socio-productive diversity and promote participatory governance, seed sovereignty, and agroecological policies rooted in social justice.
Downloads
References
ANTUNES, Irajá F. et al. Sementes crioulas, agrobiodiversidade e agroecologia. Cadernos de Agroecologia, v. 13, n. 1, 2018.
ALTIERI, Miguel A.; NICHOLLS, Clara I. Agroecologia: fundamentos e consequências. Porto Alegre: Editora UFRGS, 2022.
ALTIERI, Miguel A. et al. Transgênicos e agricultura sustentável: desafios e perspectivas para o Sul Global. Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v. 15, n. 3, p. 45–60, 2020.
ARGENTINA. Ley 25.127. Régimen para la Producción Ecológica, Biológica u Orgánica. Boletín Oficial, Buenos Aires, 1999.
______. Decreto 206/2001. Reglamentación de la Ley 25.127. Boletín Oficial, Buenos Aires, 2001.
BARRERA, Andrés; LATORRE, Alicia. Certificação orgânica e acesso de agricultores familiares a mercados diferenciados. Revista Agricultura y Sociedad, v. 14, n. 1, p. 77–94, 2021.
BERNET, Thomas et al. Integrity of Organic Agriculture: The Role of Seed and Input Regulations. Organic Agriculture, v. 8, n. 2, p. 87–94, 2018.
BITTENCOURT, Leandro Vargas; SCHMITT FILHO, Aloísio L. A institucionalização da agroecologia na legislação brasileira. Cadernos de Agroecologia, v. 16, n. 2, p. 1–12, 2021.
BOWEN, Patricia A. Documentary Analysis in Legal Studies. Journal XYZ, v. 5, n. 2, p. 10–20, 2009.
BRASIL. Lei n.º 10.831, de 23 de dezembro de 2003. Dispõe sobre a agricultura orgânica. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, 24 dez. 2003.
______. Decreto n.º 6.323, de 27 de dezembro de 2007. Regulamenta a Lei n.º 10.831/2003. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, 28 dez. 2007.
______. Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento. Instrução Normativa n.º 46, de 6 de outubro de 2011. Brasília: MAPA. 2011
BARRAQUIO, Warren Luiz; BARRAQUIO, Violet Lúcia. Organic farming: Does it contribute to contaminant-free produce and ensure food safety? Science of the Total Environment, v. 755, p. 142330, 2021. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142330.
CARBONELL, Miguel. Análisis documental y técnica de análisis de contenido: orientaciones para su aplicación en investigación educativa. Revista Científica, v. 33, p. 19–27, 2018.
CÉSPEDES-LEÓN, Cecilia et al. Successful Organic Production Practices in the Southern Cone. Sustainable Agriculture Research, v. 6, n. 3, p. 26–34, 2017. doi:10.5539/sar.v6n3p26.
CHILE. Ley 20.089. Crea el Sistema Nacional de Certificación de Productos Orgánicos Agrícolas. Diario Oficial da República de Chile, 2005.
CODEX ALIMENTARIUS COMMISSION. Guidelines for the Production, Processing, Labelling and Marketing of Organically Produced Foods (CAC/GL 32-1999). Rome: FAO/WHO, 1999. Disponível em: https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius. Acesso em: 1 dez. 2025.
DE MOLINA, Manuel González. Agroecology and Politics: How to Get Sustainability? About the Necessity for a Political Agroecology. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, v. 37, n. 1, p. 45–59, 2013.
FAO – FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. Guidelines for organic production. Rome: FAO, 2018.
______. The State of the World's Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture. Rome: FAO, 2022.
FLICK, Uwe. Desenho da pesquisa qualitativa. Porto Alegre: Artmed, 2018.
FONSECA, Maria do Carmo et al. Participatory Guarantee Systems and Organic Certification in Brazil. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, v. 46, n. 3, p. 289–306, 2022.
FONTE, Maria; GALLI, Francesca. Certifying Sustainability: The Role of Third-Party Labels in Organic Agrifood Chains. Sustainability, v. 14, n. 2, p. 1221–1238, 2022.
GARCÍA, Mariana et al. Institucionalidade e legitimidade na certificação orgânica: um estudo comparativo. Revista de Administração Pública, v. 51, n. 2, p. 249–270, 2017.
GUZMÁN, Eugenio; WOODGATE, Graham. Agroecology: Foundations in Agrarian Social Thought and Sociological Theory. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, v. 44, n. 5, p. 571–593, 2020.
HAMM, Michael W.; MICHELSEN, Johannes. Organic Agriculture: A Global Perspective. In: LOCKERETZ, William (org.). Organic Farming: An International History. Wallingford: CABI, 2007. p. 287–316.
HIRATA, Aloísia Rodrigues et al. The Contribution of the Participatory Guarantee System in the Revival of Agroecological Principles in Southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Sustainability, v. 11, n. 17, 2019. doi: 10.3390/su11174675.
HRUSCHKA, Nikolaus; KAUFMANN, Sonja; VOGL, Christian R. The benefits and challenges of participating in Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) initiatives following institutional formalization in Chile. International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability, v. 20, n. 4, p. 393–407, 2022. doi: 10.1080/14735903.2021.1934364.
IFOAM – ORGANICS INTERNATIONAL. The IFOAM Standard for Organic Production and Processing. Bonn: IFOAM, 2014. Disponível em: https://www.ifoam.bio. Acesso em: 1 dez. 2025.
KAUFMANN, Sonja; HRUSCHKA, Nikolaus; VOGL, Christian R. Participatory Guarantee Systems, a more inclusive organic certification alternative? Unboxing certification costs and farm inspections in PGS based on a case study approach. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, v. 7, 1176057, 2023. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2023.1176057.
KISS, Cláudia; LIMA, Samuel; ARRUDA, Luciana. Seed Sovereignty and Agroecological Transition: Challenges for Policy and Practice. Journal of Rural Studies, v. 97, p. 123–134, 2023.
KREMEN, Claire; ILES, Alastair; MILES, Albie. Ecological Intensification and Food System Sustainability. Nature Sustainability, v. 5, p. 164–176, 2022.
LAMINE, Claire; DARNHOFER, Ika; FERNÁNDEZ, Jesús. Conceptualizing Transitions Towards Sustainable Food Systems in the Global South. Agronomy for Sustainable Development, v. 41, n. 7, p. 1–17, 2021.
MÉNDEZ, Ernesto V.; BACON, Christopher M.; COHEN, Roseann. Agroecology as a transdisciplinary, participatory, and action-oriented approach. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, v. 37, n. 1, p. 3–18, 2013. doi:10.1080/10440046.2012.736926.
MÉNDEZ, Victor E.; SEVERINO, Jorge. Certificación de la agricultura orgánica y su relación con la agroecología. Revista Agroecología, v. 15, n. 1, p. 35–47, 2020.
MGAP – Ministerio de Ganadería, Agricultura y Pesca. Unidad de Producción Orgánica. Requisitos Generales para la Producción Orgánica. Montevideo, 2023.
LOCONTO, Allison Marie; BUSCH, Lawrence. Standards, techno-economic networks, and playing fields: performing the global market economy. Review of International Political Economy, v. 17, n. 3, p. 507–536, 2010. doi:10.1080/09692290903319870.
PARAGUAY. Decreto n.º 1864/2001. Establece el Reglamento de Producción Orgánica. Gaceta Oficial, Assunção, 2001.
PINTO, Leandro F. G. et al. Descentralização e controle social na certificação orgânica no Brasil. Cadernos de Agroecologia, v. 15, n. 2, p. 1–10, 2020.
ROUBINEAU, Nicolas; LEBRET, Karine. Conceptual Clarity in Organic Regulation. Journal of Agricultural Policy, v. 24, n. 2, p. 55–70, 2018.
SANTACOLOMA, Pilar; Organic certification schemes: managerial skills and associated costs. Occasional Paper 16. Rome: FAO, 2007.
SÁNCHEZ, Miguel A.; CAMPOS, Hugo. Coexistence of genetically modified seed production and organic farming in Chile. GM Crops & Food, v. 12, n. 1, p. 509–519, 2021. doi:10.1080/21645698.2021.2001242.
SAG – SERVICIO AGRÍCOLA Y GANADERO. Norma Técnica de Producción Orgánica Vegetal. Santiago: SAG, 2020.
SENASA – SERVICIO NACIONAL DE SANIDAD Y CALIDAD AGROALIMENTARIA. Resolución 374/2016. Sistema Nacional de Control de Productos Orgánicos. Buenos Aires: SENASA, 2016.
SENAVE – SERVICIO NACIONAL DE CALIDAD Y SANIDAD VEGETAL Y DE SEMILLAS. Manual Técnico de Producción Orgânica. versão atualizada. Assunção: SENAVE. 2023.
SILVA, Rogério P.; ARAÚJO, João Felipe. Políticas públicas e certificação participativa no Brasil: desafios e possibilidades. Revista Brasileira de Agroecologia, v. 15, n. 2, p. 1–9, 2020.
SILVA, Rogério P.; COSTA, Débora Maria Soares. Sementes crioulas e agrobiodiversidade: práticas e políticas públicas no Brasil. Revista Estudos Sociedade e Agricultura, v. 30, n. 3, p. 644–669, 2022.
SILVA, Rogério P.; PETERSEN, Paulo. A inclusão da agricultura familiar na produção orgânica: desafios da certificação. Revista Agriculturas, v. 18, n. 1, p. 12–16, 2021.
SIMIONI, Kali et al. Technological quality of common bean landraces from organic cropping system. Revista de Ciências Agroveterinárias, v. 23, n. 1, p. 33–42, 2024. doi: 10.5965/223811712312024033.
TEIXEIRA, Marcelo A.; LOPES, Bianca; RANGEL, Júlio. Certificação participativa: possibilidades para a agroecologia e a agricultura familiar. Revista NERA, v. 22, n. 46, p. 192–214, 2019.
URUGUAY. Decreto n.º 505/002. Reglamento para la Producción Orgánica Vegetal. Diario Oficial, Montevideo, 2002.
VALENTE, Vinícius; OLIVEIRA, Camila. Regulatory Challenges for Small Farmers in Organic Trade. Journal of Agri-Food Law, v. 10, n. 1, p. 45–60, 2020.
VILARÓ, Mariana; VIDAL, Rafael; ABADIE, Tabaré. Diversity of maize landraces in germplasm collections from South America. Agrociencia Uruguay, v. 24, n. 1, e108, 2020. doi:10.31285/AGRO.24.108
WEZEL, Alexander et al. Agroecology Now! Transformations Towards More Just and Sustainable Food Systems. Cham: Springer, 2020.
WILLER, Helga; TRAVERSO, Lórien; SCHLATTER, Bernadette. The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics and Emerging Trends. Frick: FiBL, 2023.
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Eduardo Saldanha Vogelmann, Juliana Prevedello
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice
The copyright of articles published in this journal remains with the authors, with first publication rights for the journal.
License
When published in this open access journal, licensed through CC BY 4.0, articles are distributed free of charge and can be shared and adapted for any purpose, including commercial. As attribution of use, the license requires that due credit be given, with a link to the license and indication of changes. This does not mean that the licensor endorses the use of the information in the article, or the person who used this information. It also implies the impossibility of applying legal or technological measures that restrict the use of the information by third parties.
