The EU-US organic The EU-US organic equivalence arrangementequivalence arrangement

Herman Van BoxemEuropean CommissionDG AGRI.H3 BioFach, 17 February 2012

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Equivalence?

“Equivalent”

in describing different systems or measures means that they are capable of meeting the same objectives and principles by applying rules which ensure the same level of assurance of conformity.

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Process

Common list of differences

Analysis Technical dialogue

Review on the spot

Substantial issues

Resolved Not resolved

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Arrangement

Synchronisation

EU

Assessment of US

Includes US on EU list of Third Countries

US

Assessment of EU

Determines equivalency of EU

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Substantial issues…

EU about US

• Chilean nitrate• GMO• Antibiotics fruit• Animal feed • Manure

US about EU

• Oversight• List of veterinary

drugs• Antibiotics in livestock• Animal feed

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… US issues resolved (1)

• Chilean nitrate phasing out• GMO testing• Antibiotics fruit additional certification• Animal feed methionine: less & phasing

out• Manure soil and water protection

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… EU issues resolved (2)

• Oversight OK + increase• Veterinary drugs evaluation by EU• Antibiotics livestock additional certification• Animal feed phase out of

non-organic 5%

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Substantial common issues

• Origin• Acceptance of each others imports

• Scope• Aquaculture not yet in arrangement• Wine to be reviewed once EU has published its rules

• Import certificates• Required for trade in both directions

• Labelling• Rules of destination country apply

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Technical cooperation agreement

1. Third country recognition2. Animal health3. Standard setting4. Controls

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Outcomes – from 1.6.2012

• Export from EU to US• can be certified by all EU CBs• New US import certificate

• Export from US to EU• can be certified by all US CBs• no import authorisations required anymore• Normal EU import certificate

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Essentials

• 10 years• Huge effort• Process needs confidentiality and trust • Major step forward• Recognition of each others achievements• Imports based on the respect of the exporting

country’s rules• Technical cooperation = key for the future