On Thursday 19 April, the European Parliament approved, by 466 votes to 124 with 50 abstentions, the text of the new regulation on the production and labelling of organic products which was the result of a compromise between institutions end June 2017 (see EUROPE 11908).
During the debate in plenary, the rapporteur, Martin Häusling (Greens/EFA, Germany), pointed out that it had taken four years of discussion to reach an agreement and no fewer than 18 trialogues. The text has still to be formally approved by the Council of the EU before it can take effect. It will apply as of 1 January 2021.
Speaking on behalf of the EPP, Norbert Lins of Germany said organic produce was no longer a niche market. The sector has enormous growth potential. “We ensure that organic and non-organic can exist together”, he stressed, hailing the “acceptable” compromises especially on imports, controls and mixed farming (for both organic and conventional produce).
Pesticides. “The establishment of precautionary measures finally makes it possible to avoid contamination of organic products by pesticides. This is a noteworthy breakthrough”, said Eric Andrieu (S&D, France) during plenary, speaking on behalf of his group. Phil Hogan, Agriculture Commissioner, said he was “disappointed that we have not reached a more ambitious result on pesticides”. The Commission would have liked to set thresholds in place (for pesticide residues) beyond which the organic product would lose its certification. Parliament and Council, however, were divided over the subject and a compromise had to be found.
According to the text, farmers and other operators should apply measures to avoid contamination of products by pesticides. If a non-authorised pesticide or fertiliser is suspected to be present, the final product should not bear the organic label until further investigation. If contamination is found to be deliberate or the operator fails to apply precautionary measures, the product will lose its organic status.
Four years after entry into force of this regulation, the Commission should report back on how efficient the EU anti-contamination rules and national thresholds are and, if need be, come up with a draft law to harmonise them. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)