Luxembourg, 17/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 16 June, the Council of the EU adopted without debate a decision giving the European Commission a mandate to carry out negotiations for agreements between the European Union and third countries on the trade in organic products.
The current rules on organic production allow third countries to apply to the Commission for unilateral recognition of equivalence. This situation is discriminatory to European producers, who do not have the option of obtaining the same treatment from third countries.
The Commission is planning to review this policy with a view to bringing in a system based on mutual recognition. This approach also has the blessing of the Council, which unanimously asked the Commission to adopt a more balanced, reciprocal and transparent approach in trade agreements in this area. The sector has called for European producers' interests to be taken into account in the negotiations.
The Commission has already adopted an implementing regulation setting a deadline of 1 July 2014 for unilateral equivalence applications. This means that it is particularly important for the Commission to have a legal instrument in place after this date, to request and accept requests for organic equivalence. The reciprocal approach will create a re-balance in favour of European producers, without reducing the options to import organic products onto the European market. The Commission's aim is to continue to facilitate trade in both directions, in full respect of European production and control rules. In line with the provisions of the mandate, the EU countries will be informed of the specific details of each bilateral negotiation, before they open. (LC)