Section 8Sec./Art. 8

A new Section 12 is hereby inserted after the new Section 11, to read as follows:

"Section 12.Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS). -The BAFS of the DA shall be restructured, strengthened, and empowered to support the objectives of this Act. It shall provide technical assistance to the NOAB and the NOAP-NPCO. The BAFS, in addition to its existing functions and responsibilities, shall perform the following functions, duties and responsibilities for purposes of this Act:

(a) Formulate and update standards relevant to organic agriculture;

(b) Issue accreditation to OCBs;

(c) Conduct inspections on compliance of PGS groups with the Philippine National Standards (PNS) for organic agriculture, and publish at least once a year the list of compliant PGS groups;

(d) Issue registration of organic inputs, such as organic soil amendments and organic bio-control agents;

(e) Issue registration of integrated organic farms with multiple commodities/production and of organic input products;

(f) Rules on the appeal of farm/farmowner on decision made by OCBs and the concerned municipal/city PGS groups on inspection and certification issues; and

(g) Perform such other functions, duties, and responsibilities as may be necessary to implement this Act."