A new e-certification system will allow better controls of imports of organic products from Wednesday 19 April onwards, explained the European Commission on 18 April (see EUROPE 11650).
In a press release, the Commission says the new system will make ‘the EU a global leader in traceability and in the collection of reliable data on trade of these products.’
The innovative e-certification scheme will help enhance food safety provisions and reduce potential fraud, explains the office of EU Agriculture Commissioner Phil Hogan. It will reduce the administrative burden for operators and authorities and provide much more comprehensive statistical data on organic imports.
Both paper and e-certification will be used during a six-month transition period. As of 19 October 2017, organic imports will be covered only by e-certification.
These new rules will improve the traceability of organic products, which is an important growing market, said Hogan.
In practical terms, the changes will require the addition of these import certificates into the Trade Control & Expert System (TRACES) – the existing EU electronic system for tracking movements of food products across the EU. Accessible 24/7, the TRACES system has been shown to facilitate trade by enabling trade partners and competent authorities to easily obtain information on the movements of their consignments, and speeding up administrative procedures. It has also proved to be an invaluable tool in facilitating rapid reaction to health threats by tracing the movements of consignments and facilitating the risk management of rejected consignments.
Following recommendations from the European Court of Auditors and a request from Member States to address concerns about monitoring the movements of organic products and the consistency of import checks, the new rules are aimed at improving the traceability of organic products and reducing potential fraud. The Commission implementing regulation (EU) 2016/1842 was published on 14 October 2016, amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 as regards the electronic certificate of inspection for imported organic products and certain other elements, and Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 as regards the requirements for preserved or processed organic products and the transmission of information.
Five percent of farmland in EU devoted to organic farming. The proportion of farmland in the EU given over to organic farming is 5%, compared with under 1% in other parts of the world. Demand for organic products outstrips supply in the EU. Some products cannot be cultivated everywhere because they need special weather or geographical conditions, which means that coffee, rice, honey and fruit and vegetables are among the organic products the EU imports the most. Negotiations on updating EU rules governing the production of organic products are due to resume in early May (see EUROPE 11768). (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)