On December 7, 2011 Implementing Regulation (EU) 1267/2011 was published in the Official Journal of the European Union. The new Regulation is amending Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 laying down detailed rules for implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 as regards the arrangements for imports of organic products from third countries.
The European Commission published the list of Control Bodies and Authorities which were assessed and authorized for carrying out controls and granting certification for organic products in 59 Third Countries. The list has been drafted in order to ensure the equivalence of Control Systems between EU and the production of organic products in the respective Third Countries. The list (Annex ΙV of the Implementing Regulation) includes all the Third Countries where authorized Control Bodies are active as well as their accreditation scope, which can consist of one or more of the following categories:
A : Unprocessed plant products
B : Live animals or unprocessed animal products
C : Aquaculture products
D : Processed agricultural products for use as food
E : Processed agricultural products for use as feed
F : Seeds and propagating material
With the new system in place, any Control Body that has been authorized by the Commission, can issue certificates but only for organic products under its authorization scope (categories).
For a limited period of time, imports from Third Countries shall be made in 3 ways:
In order to ensure the smooth transition from the system of National authorisations to the list of Control Bodies and Control Authorities competent to carry out controls and issue certificates in Third Countries, the new New Implementing Regulation shall shall apply from July 1st, 2012.
First reaction from the European Control Bodies
The independent European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC), has circulated a press release addressing the publication of this first list of Control Bodies. It stresses its concern regarding the effectiveness of the new system for imports of organic products from Third Countries and raises a doubt concerning the fact that 90% of the authorized Control Bodies are not from the European Union. The respective applications from EU Certifiers were significantly more than those eventually authorized by the European Commission. (Read the EOCC open letter)
To download the new Regulation (EU) 1267/2011 visit the page “European Regulations“