expresses its preference for the policy option explored by the Commission of improving the status quo on the basis of improvements to, and more effective implementation of, the existing legislation;
believes that the integrity of entrepreneurs is the basis for sustainable growth and consumer confidence. Integrity cannot be enforced solely by tightening the rules. The more stringent rules directly impact the continuity of the sector;
recommends leaving the option of parallel production open;
is not in favour of moving from a system of best efforts obligation to an obligation to achieve results by introducing in Article 20 a threshold for non-authorised substances in organic products;
recommends that the delegated acts in Chapter III, Production rules, be developed as part of the main text in order to give the CoR the opportunity to express a view on this essential part of the rules;
is disappointed with the action plan for three reasons. First, it has no specific objective. Secondly, the plan has no budget of its own. Thirdly, the local and regional dimension is missing even though it is mentioned in the general principles of organic production and even though local and regional authorities are directly involved in the development of organic farming as co-financiers of rural development programme measures;
recommends that a platform be established to supervise and evaluate the action plan. The platform would promote and evaluate the implementation of the action plan;
advises the Commission to establish a target of 10% organically cultivated land by 2020.
The concerns expressed by the Member States during the AGRIFISH meeting of the Council of the European Union on 10 November largely match the CoR concerns (The need to reintroduce the possibility to have mixed organic and non-organic production and to maintain exceptional rules necessary to address the significant differences in geographical and socio-economical conditions throughout Europe).
Furthermore, the rapporteur participated at the hearing in the EP AGRI committee to present the draft opinion before its adoption at the CoR Plenary. The Chair of the AGRI committee, Mr Siekierski stressed that the committee attaches great importance to the CoR pinion. Generally speaking, the concerns in the EP go in the same direction as the ones expressed by the CoR.
Finally, European Commission indicated in the annex of its Work Programme for 2015 that the proposal will be withdrawn and replaced by a new initiative, if there is no agreement within six months.
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS
- endorses the objectives set by the Commission for organic production: removing obstacles to the sustainable development of organic production, promoting the efficient development of the single market and ensuring fair competition for farmers and market participants and maintaining or increasing consumer confidence in organic products;
- expresses its preference for the policy option explored by the Commission of improving the status quo on the basis of improvements to, and more effective implementation of, the existing legislation;
- notes that the Commission has in fact opted for a radical change to the law, with standards being tightened and all flexibility being removed;
- believes that the integrity of entrepreneurs is the basis for sustainable growth and consumer confidence. Integrity cannot be enforced solely by tightening the rules. The more stringent rules directly impact the continuity of the sector;
- recommends leaving the option of parallel production open;
- is not in favour of moving from a system of best efforts obligation to an obligation to achieve results by introducing in Article 20 a threshold for non-authorised substances in organic products;
- recommends that the delegated acts in Chapter III, Production rules, be developed as part of the main text in order to give the CoR the opportunity to express a view on this essential part of the rules;
- is disappointed with the action plan for three reasons. First, it has no specific objective. Secondly, the plan has no budget of its own. Thirdly, the local and regional dimension is missing even though it is mentioned in the general principles of organic production and even though local and regional authorities are directly involved in the development of organic farming as co-financiers of rural development programme measures;
- recommends that a platform be established to supervise and evaluate the action plan. The platform would promote and evaluate the implementation of the action plan;
- advises the Commission to establish a target of 10% organically cultivated land by 2020.