Brussels, Belgium
June 13, 2007
Council of the European
Union
2806th Council meeting - Agriculture and Fisheries
Luxembourg, 11-12 June 2007
European Union agriculture
ministers today reached political agreement on a new
regulation on organic production and labelling, which will
be simpler for both farmers and consumers. The new rules set
out a complete set of objectives, principles and basic rules
for organic production, and include a new permanent import
regime and a more consistent control regime. The use of the
EU organic logo will be mandatory, but it can be accompanied
by national or private logos. The place where the products
were farmed has to be indicated to inform consumers. Food
will only be able to carry an organic logo if at least 95
percent of the ingredients are organic. But non-organic
products will be entitled to indicate organic ingredients on
the ingredients list only. The use of genetically modified
organisms will remain prohibited. It will now be made
explicit that the general limit of 0.9 percent for the
accidental presence of authorised GMOs will also apply to
organic products. There will be no changes in the list of
authorised substances for organic farming. The new rules
also create the basis for adding rules on organic
aquaculture, wine, seaweed and yeasts. In the second part of
this revision exercise, and building on this new regulation,
the existing strict detailed rules will be transferred from
the old to the new Regulation.
Main results of the Council
- The Council reached
unanimous political agreement on a regulation on the reform
of the fruit and vegetables sector.
- The Council, in agreement
with the Commission, adopted conclusions on the application
of cross compliance.
- The Council reached
political agreement on a regulation updating the rules
governing production and labelling of organic products.
- The Council reached
political agreement on a single Common Market Organisation
(CMO) regulation simplifying and consolidating the existing
specific CMOs, on a recovery plan for cod stocks in the
Baltic Sea and on Greenland fisheries partnership.
- Without discussion, the
Council adopted a Regulation establishing a recovery plan
for bluefin tuna, for sole and plaice in the North Sea and
for European eel. It also adopted new traceability and
labelling rules for veal meat and a scheme for maize
intervention.
Full release:
http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ueDocs/cms_Data/docs/pressData/en/agricult/94600.pdf
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