Resolution by the EU – New Regulation effective from 2009

The Council Regulation concerning organic agriculture which has been effective since 1992 is being amended. This is what the Ministers of Agriculture agreed on Thuesday, 19th December in Brussels. Discussions with representatives of the organic sector had lasted for months. As positive result the German association of organic manufacturers and wholesalers, BNN Herstellung und Handel, stated:  “It was possible to accomplish in the negotiations that standards for organic products under private label can be stricter than the minimum criteria set by the EU”, commented Chief Executive Ms. Elke Röder. The organic associations are allowed to keep their quality marks, and retail is allowed to inform the consumers about their stricter standards. This could be an essential component for differentiation in the organic sector. The use of private labels has been boosting the further development of the organic market and supports customers’ decisions. The original draft of the EU Commission had planned to allow nothing but the organic logo of the EU. Now, just an additional printing of this sign is obligatory. From the view of the organic retail, this shows a lowering of quality compared with the former EU organic standard.

According to the old regulation, any advertising with “organic terms” was prohibited for non-organic products. This vast formulation for protection was split into single aspects leading to the fact that the sum of regulations was less clear than the former one. The Council of Ministers has not agreed on all of the important detailed regulations for realisation yet. These attachments are of a vital meaning for the daily business of the trade, but will be worked on under the German presidency of the Council.

BNN welcomes that there are no specific limits for genetically engineered ingredients shares in organic products. “In the organic agriculture, there is neither genetic engineering nor are there any pesticides. If any contamination occurs, not the organic farmers or the organic producers are to be held responsible, but the originator”, stated Ms. Röder.

In January 2007, new regulations for the import of organic products from non-EU countries will be in effect. These regulations are not precise enough to ensure the equivalence of organic products originating from those countries with organic products from the EU. 

(only German website)

http://www.n-bnn.de/