Brussels, 16/02/2012 (Agence Europe) - As from 1 June 2012 organic products certified in Europe or in the United States may be sold as organic in either region. This partnership was concluded on Wednesday 15 February between the two largest organic-producers in the world. The partnership will allow organic products from the EU or the US to be marketed, labelled and certified as they are in both the EU and US markets.
Previously, growers and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to obtain separate certifications to two standards, which meant a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork. This partnership eliminates significant barriers, especially for small and medium-sized organic producers. European Agriculture Commissioner Dacian Ciolos explained: “This agreement comes with a double added value. On the one hand, organic farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less bureaucracy and fewer costs, to both the US and the EU markets, strengthening the competitiveness of this sector. In addition, it improves transparency on organic standards.” Kathleen Merrigan, US Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, stated: “It is a win for the American economy and President Obama's jobs strategy.”
According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), US exports of organic products reached around $1.8 billion in 2010, a figure that is expected to rise at an annual rate of 8% in the future. The US market for these products has grown from almost 8% in 2010 to around $28.6 billion. In total, in both the US and EU, the organic sector accounts for around €40 billion in goods sold, a figure that rises every year.
Although there are small differences between the US and EU organic standards, both parties individually determined that their programmes were equivalent except for the prohibition on the use of antibiotics. USDA organic regulations prohibit the use of antibiotics except to control invasive bacterial infections (fire blight) in organic apple and pear orchards. EU organic regulations allow antibiotics only to treat infected animals. For all products traded under this partnership, certifying agents must verify that antibiotics are not used for any reason.
In addition, all products traded under the partnership must be shipped with an organic export certificate. This document will show the production location and identify the organisation that certified the organic product, verify that prohibited substances and methods were not used, certify that the terms of the partnership were met, and allow traded products to be tracked. Both parties are committed to ensuring that all traded organic products meet the terms of the partnership, retaining their organic integrity from farm to market. The EU and US will also begin to work on a series of cooperation initiatives to promote organic production and tackle important topics such as animal welfare and other issues. (LC/transl.fl)