Organic farming: organic production and labelling of the products (repeal. Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91)

The proposal for a Regulation on organic production (COM/2005/671) requires the Member States to include controls on organic operators in line with Regulation 882/2004/EC on official food and feed controls (referred to as OFFC). The scope of OFFC covers controls on organic production.

The Commission is of the view that the OFFC represents an important reinforcement of the food/feed controls conducted at a Community-wide level. Its control methodology is modern and includes risk-based action. Further, the OFFC requires the Member States to integrate all controls on food and feed into control planning. The distribution of responsibilities, as regards reporting and transparency, are clearly laid out in the OFFC.

As such, the Commission does not, in its new proposal, intend to dismantle the current control system as laid down in Regulation 2092/91/EC. The existing rules are tailor-made and have been designed based on extensive experience pertaining to the organic Regulation.

The Commission is of the opinion, therefore, that in terms of structure, the current organic rules are compatible with the OFFC. Thus, control provisions, enshrined in Article 8 and 9 are reflected in the proposal in so far as the OFFC is concerned.