Mutual recognition of organic products between EU and USA

On February 15, 2012 the new Implementing Regulation 126/2012 was published, as regards the terms of imports of organic products from the United States of America. According to the new regulation, implementing Regulation 1235/2008 as regards imports of organic products from Third Countries, products imported from USA as equivalent and under an equivalent control system shall be plant and animal products (raw and processed) excluding aquaculture products.

After a long period of negotiations, EU and USA agreed on a mutual recognition of their Organic Standards, meaning the EU Regulation 834/2007 and the Organic Foods Production Act. The agreement was officially announced during BIOFACH 2012 Fair in Nurnberg, Germany. The inclusion of USA in the Third Countries List of EU Regulation 1235/2008 is valid until the end of June 2015.

This agreement is very important for the Organic Sector because EU and the USA represent the two biggest markets for organic products Worldwide reaching 50 bil. dollars for the year 2011.  EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Mr. Dacian Ciolos stated: “This agreement comes with a double added value. On the one hand, organic farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less bureaucracy and less costs, to both the U.S. and the EU markets, strengthening the competitiveness of this sector. In addition, it improves transparency on organic standards, and enhances consumers’ confidence and recognition of our organic food and products. This partnership marks an important step, taking EU-U.S. agricultural trade relations to a new level of cooperation“. U.S Deputy Agriculture Secretary Merrigan said: “This partnership connects organic farmers and companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a wide range of new market opportunities“.

This new status of free trade of organic products between EU and USA shall apply as from June 1st, 2012.

You may find the new Implementing Regulation at our EU Ragulations page.