Brussels, 29/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of the EU institutions will meet in trialogue on 19 November to try to reach agreement on the proposal on organic farming. Further trialogue meetings are scheduled.
The European Parliament's agriculture committee adopted its position on 13 October and the Council adopted a general approach on 16 June. At its meeting on Monday 26 October, the Special Committee on Agriculture (SCA) discussed the Council's negotiating position and will revisit this issue on 9 November.
Scope. Like the Council, Parliament proposes extending the list of products falling within the scope of application but the two lists do not fully correspond. In addition, the institutions each favour a different procedure for amending the list (Parliament wants co-decision). Lastly, Parliament proposes that mass catering should come within the scope of application (but some countries oppose this idea).
Structure of the text. The Council takes the view that technical rules on production should be removed from the annexes and should be amended by implementing acts. Parliament wants them to remain in the annexes and for them to be amended by co-decision or delegated acts.
Exceptional rules. Parliament is calling for the competent authorities in the member states to be allowed to grant exemptions to organic production rules on a case-by-case basis (for example, in exceptional circumstances) whereas the Council general approach calls for harmonisation.
Definition of groups of operators. Parliament has amended the definition of the term “group of operators”.
Environmental performance. Parliament proposes that some organic farming operators improve their environmental performances within a harmonised framework.
Presence of unauthorised substances. Both Parliament and Council are opposed to setting a threshold above which products containing pesticides would lose their organic certification. Parliament wants a text that covers only pesticides whereas the Council's general approach covers all unauthorised substances. Parliament also proposes national databases to record infringements. It proposes, too, a list of preventive measures to be implemented to prevent fraud and infringements.
Checks. Parliament wants annual on-site checks, as at present. The Council has shown greater flexibility (for example, extending the length of time between checks). Parliament is calling for smaller operators to be exempt, particularly if their products are pre-packed or even it is a matter of small quantities of loose products.
Imports from outside the EU. For products that do not comply with the regulation, Parliament proposes that the Commission should have the power to adopt delegated acts establishing the specific conditions under which products could be imported from third countries.
150 km limit. When organic feeds are not available on the farm, Parliament proposes that feeds produced within a radius of 150 km be authorised. There is a majority in Council against this provision which is felt to be too complex to be applied. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)