Foodlaw-Reading
Dr David Jukes, The University of Reading, UK
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Commission Consultation , 10 September 2019
The Commission has launched an consultation relating to organic foods. For details, see: https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/initiatives/ares-2019-5658405_en. The consultation closes on 8 October 2019.
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Commission consultation: Organic food – exemptions to production rules in extreme events A copy of the proposed regulation is available on this site (click on image). |
The following is the Explanatory Memorandum from the document:
1. CONTEXT OF THE DELEGATED ACT
Following the adoption of the new organic regulation, which will enter into application on 1 January 2021, it is necessary to adopt a delegated regulation supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on the exceptional production rules so derogations to organic production rules can apply in case of catastrophic circumstances. Producers need to have legal certainty on the new rules that will apply in case of catastrophic circumstances and EU Member States need to have enough time to integrate these new rules into their national legislations.
2. CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ACT
The act was discussed thoroughly with Member States at the Group of Experts on Organic Production as well as with the main organisations representing the organic sector, namely IFOAM, COPA-COGECA and EOCC. DG AGRI cooperated closely with other DGs in the field of their specific expertise when drafting these rules. WTO partners were notified and general public consultations were also carried out.
3. LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE DELEGATED ACT
This delegated act lays down possible derogations from the organic production rules in case of catastrophic circumstances like ‘adverse climatic event’, ‘animal diseases’, ‘environmental incident’, ‘natural disaster’, ‘catastrophic event’ or any comparable situation together with the procedures to be applied by the competent authorities of EU Member States and rules on monitoring and reporting.
