Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Comission consultation, 19 July 2019
Commission consultation: Organic food – list of substances that can be used in production A copy of this consultation document is available on this site (click on image). A draft Annex is also available - see: Annex - ist of Substances. For more details, see the Commission page at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2019-4697957_en. Consultation closes: 16 August 2019. |
The following are the recitals from the draft regulation:
(1) In accordance with Article 16(3)(b) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, several Member States have submitted dossiers on certain substances to the Commission and the other Member States, in view of their authorisation and inclusion in Annexes I, II, VI and VIII to Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 [see note 1 below]. Those dossiers have been examined by the Expert Group for Technical Advice on Organic Production (EGTOP) and the Commission.
(2) In its recommendations with regard to fertilisers [see note 2 below] EGTOP concluded, inter alia, that the substances “biochar”, “mollusc waste and egg shells” and “humic and fulvic acids” comply with the objectives and principles of organic production. Therefore, those substances should be included in Annex I to Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. EGTOP also recommended to clarify the definition of “calcium carbonate” set out in that Annex.
(3) In its recommendations with regard to plant protection products [see note 3 below] EGTOP concluded, inter alia, that the substances “maltodextrin”, “hydrogen peroxide”, “terpenes (eugenol, geraniol and thymol)”, “sodium chloride”, “cerevisane” and pyrethrins from other plants than Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium comply with the objectives and principles of organic production. Therefore, those substances should be included in Annex II to Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. Moreover, EGTOP made recommendations for the structure of that Annex.
(4) In its recommendations with regard to feed [see note 4 below] EGTOP concluded, inter alia, that the substances “guar gum” as a feed additive, “sweet chestnut extract” as a sensory additive, and “betain anhydrous” for monogastric animals and only from natural or organic origin comply with the objectives and principles of organic production. Therefore, those substances should be included in Annex VI to Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. In that Annex, the reference to some silage additives is unclear and needs to be clarified to avoid confusion.
(5) In its recommendations with regard to food [see note 5 below] EGTOP concluded, inter alia, that the substances “glycerol” as a humectant in gel capsules and surface coating in tablets, “bentonite” as a processing aid, “L(+)lactic acid, and sodium hydroxide” as a processing aid for the extraction of plant proteins and “tara gum powder” as a thickener and “hop extract and pine rosin extract” in sugar production comply with the objectives and principles of organic production. Therefore, those substances should be included in Annex VIII to Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. Moreover, EGTOP recommended to require, for tara gum powder, lecithins, glycerol, locust bean gum, gellan gum, arabic gum, guar gum and carnauba wax, that they be produced organically. To allow for sufficient time to adapt to that new requirement, operators should be given a three-year transition period.
(6) In Annex VIIIa to Regulation (EC) No 889/2008, some references to the names of additives are unprecise and need to be clarified to avoid confusion.
(7) Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee on Organic Production.
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