The new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 has fundamentally changed the landscape for international organic trade and certification. The shift from the principle of "equivalence" to strict "compliance" brings new rules and rigorous control requirements for producers and exporters, but equally for the control bodies and national authorities that inspect, certify and supervise them in non-EU countries.
Navigating the new control framework
The AGRINFO guidance "Control of organic plant products exported to the European Union – Guidance for control bodies and authorities in non-EU countries", developed in collaboration with FiBL, is the first of its kind to condense this new control framework for organic imports into the EU and Switzerland into a structured and accessible format, for control professionals and authorities in low- and middle-income countries.
What the guidance offers: In simplified language, and with references to the legal texts for further detail, the guide describes
- how the organic control system works within the EU;
- how organic imports enter the EU market;
- how control bodies are recognised and supervised under the compliance regime;
- what role national authorities play; and
- how operators and groups of operators are inspected, certified and monitored – from application and on-site inspection to consignment checks, sampling and measures in the event of non-compliance or findings of residues.
It is not an official interpretation by the European Commission and will be updated as the rules evolve.
Who should read it: control bodies working in non-EU countries, national competent authorities, and everyone involved in certifying organic exports to the European Union or supporting suppliers to achieve or maintain certification. The guide explains the obligations of the new control regime and helps secure producers' access to the European organic market.
Guide for operators and groups of operators – now also in French and Spanish
While the new publication focusses on the control system, the production rules themselves are explained in the "Guidance for operators and groups of operators on the production, preparation and export of organic plant products into the European Union". For a full overview of the new applicable rules, reading both AGRINFO guidance documents to navigate the new EU organic regulation is recommended. The guidance for operators is now available in three languages – English, French and Spanish.
Further information
Contact
Links
- agrinfo.eu: New Control Guide for Control Bodies and local authorities outside the EU
- agrinfo.eu: Guide for operators and group of operators