The European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development adopted, by 37 votes to four, with eight abstentions, on Tuesday 14 July, its position on the proposal to revise the EU rules on the production, labelling and certification of organic products.
All the compromise amendments negotiated by the rapporteur, Camilla Laureti (S&D, Italian), were adopted during the vote (see EUROPE 13907/10).
The adopted compromises amend several annexes to the Organic Regulation, notably on animal production rules. They provide for regulated derogations for the introduction of non-organic poultry less than three days old into organic farms, with a limited possibility up to seven days in certain justified cases (availability of organic animals, animal welfare considerations or logistical constraints).
The amendments also introduce the possibility of using “innovative livestock housing systems” where access to grazing is not possible, provided minimum surface areas and certain safeguards for herbivores are respected. In addition, the MEPs have adjusted the rules relating to outdoor access for poultry, building surface areas and the temporary use of non-organic protein feed where organic alternatives are unavailable.
The amendments also provide for the extension, until 31 December 2031 (compared to the Council’s position of end-2036), of the equivalence regime for organic products from 11 third countries, in order to avoid disruption to trade.
The EU’s organic logo may only be used for the labelling, presentation and advertising of products imported from third countries if they comply with equivalent standards as well as additional production and control requirements.
Small operators selling unpackaged organic products directly to consumers would remain exempt from the certification requirement if they meet certain criteria relating to turnover, sales volume and certification costs. The MEPs have proposed raising the annual turnover ceiling from €20,000 to €25,000 and the maximum sales volume from 5,000 to 10,000 kg per year in order to expand the benefit of this derogation.
An amendment tabled by Éric Sargiacomo (S&D, French) was also adopted in order to remove the ban on tartaric stabilisation using electrodialysis. This technique, used in viticulture to prevent the formation of tartrate deposits in wine, is based on a physical process without the addition of additives and is highly energy efficient. According to the proponents of the amendment, the available scientific data show that its environmental footprint and operating principles are compatible with the objectives of organic production. This change would allow the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) to assess this process on a scientific basis. This method is already authorised for organic production in several third countries.
The position adopted by the MEPs constitutes Parliament’s draft mandate for negotiations with the EU Council on the final text. This mandate was approved by 40 votes to eight, with one abstention.
The text will be submitted to a vote in plenary as soon as possible. The co-legislators hope to reach an agreement before the end of the year, as the current rules applicable to imports of organic products expire on 31 December.
Marta Anna Wcisło (EPP, Polish) welcomed the introduction of fairer and more accessible rules for small organic producers, as well as “practical changes better suited to realities on the ground, notably through more workable provisions on animal farming and housing”.
The organisation IFOAM Organics Europe welcomed the adoption of the draft report, considering that this makes it possible to move quickly towards concluding the file. However, it calls on the European institutions to maintain a limited and focused revision, in order to preserve the fundamental principles of organic production.
The organic sector says it is concerned by several elements of the adopted compromise, notably the possibility of authorising the use of non-organic chicks more than three days old, the introduction of “innovative livestock housing systems” as an alternative to permanent access to pasture for ruminants, as well as new control requirements (including for online sales), additional labelling obligations deemed disproportionate and a regular review clause for the Regulation, which could create legal uncertainty for operators.
Link to the compromise amendments: https://aeur.eu/f/mvv (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)