Council Minutes, 28 June 2007
The following is an extract from the Minutes of the Environment Council held on the 28 June 2007
The Council adopted by qualified majority a regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 (8620/1/07, 10751/07 ADD1). The Belgian, Greek, Hungarian and Italian delegations voted against.
The new regulation is intended to respond to the growth in consumer demand in recent years and the increase of the market share in most Member States.
It will improve traceability and consumer information through compulsory indications such as "EU agriculture" where agricultural raw material has been farmed in the EU, the possibility of using the Community organic production logo as well as national and private logos.
The new regulation will apply as from 1 January 2009. It defines principles encouraging:
It confirms the prohibition of the use of GMOs and ionising radiation and defines harmonised rules for the production and labelling of organic products, including processed products, and for controls on imports of such products. Where food and feed additives are not naturally available on the market the regulation provides a derogation for additives produced by GMOs.