The European Union and the US have reached an historic agreement on organic produce.
From 1 June organic products certified in Europe or in the US may be sold as organic in either market. The combined organics sector in the US and EU is valued at more than $50 billion and rising every year.
The deal was signed in Germany last week by Dacian Ciolos, European commissioner for agriculture and Kathleen Merrigan, US agriculture deputy secretary. Merrigan said: “This partnership connects organic farmers and companies on both sides of the Atlantic with a wide range of new market opportunities. It is a win for the American economy and president Obama’s jobs strategy.”
Ciolos said the deal comes “with double added-value”. He added: “On the one hand, organic farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less bureaucracy and less costs, to both the US and the EU markets, strengthening the competitiveness of this sector. In addition, it improves transparency on organic standards, and enhances consumers' confidence and recognition of our organic food and products.”
Leading up to the agreement, both parties conducted thorough on-site audits to ensure that their regulations, quality control measures, certification requirements, and labelling practices were compatible.
All products traded under the partnership must be shipped with an organic export certificate. The European Commission's directorate-general for agriculture (DGVI) and the US department of agriculture (USDA) will both take on key oversight roles.
The deal only covers products exported from and certified in the US or the European Union.
