Brussels, 14/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On 23 March, the European Commission presented a proposal for a Council decision authorising the opening of negotiations on agreements between the European Union and third countries on trade in organic products. At the SCA (Special Committee on Agriculture) on Monday 12 May, many countries acknowledged that reciprocity on trade in organic products was crucial.
In connection with the Council conclusions (mid-April 2013) on organic agricultural products, the Commission presented a draft Council decision authorising it to open negotiations on the trade of organic agriculture products as part of the agreements between the EU and third countries. This would involve setting up reciprocity to make it possible for producers from the EU countries to use the equivalence system that is currently in force between the EU and third countries. This reciprocity would be written into the framework agreement with the third countries. For the time being, there is a transitional system (Regulation 442/2014) in place which only runs until 1 July 2014. The issue will again be discussed at the SCA on 2 June - with the objective of bringing the Agriculture Council to adopt the text at the Agriculture Council on 16 June.
Several delegations at the SCA (including France, Denmark and the Czech Republic) expressed scrutiny reservations, believing that they did not have enough time to scrutinise the proposal. Other countries, like Italy, Poland, Ireland and Sweden, underlined the importance of having a legal framework quickly in order to have effective reciprocity in trade between the EU and third countries.
A few delegations (particularly those of France, Austria, Denmark and the Czech Republic) wanted the Commission to define how EU member states will be involved in these future negotiations. In the Commission's opinion, the organic agriculture working group and the SCA are the natural relay points for informing the delegations.
Sweden and Denmark asked for information on how developing countries exporting to the EU would be affected. The Commission reiterated that this decision should affect EU exports but that conditions for imports from developing countries should not change. (LC)