Opportunities and risks of the revised European import regime

Summary

The EU has new requirements for the import of organic products replacing the import authorizations by a system where certification bodies operating in Third countries will be approved by the EU Commission. The new system has the potential to increase the efficacy of the control system in Third Countries, to reduce the bureaucracy for international trade and competitive disadvantages for non-European certification bodies. However clear criteria for the assessment of compliancy and equivalency and thorough supervision of certification bodies are necessary to maintain and improve the organic integrity for imported products.