A new pact
between the EU and the US should reduce the red tape involved in selling foods
classified as organic in one region to the other. Officials say the deal will
help small- and medium-scale farmers.
Agriculture
officials from the European Union and United States signed a deal on Wednesday
that will recognize organic certification for nearly all food products.
"This
partnership marks an important step, taking EU-US agricultural trade relations
to a new level of cooperation," said EU Agriculture Commissioner Dacian
Ciolos in a statement.
The US and
EU are the world's first and second-largest markets for organic products,
respectively. US organics are estimated to be worth $26.7 billion (20.4 billion
euros), while the EU's market is $26 billion.
Market opportunities
According
to figures from the German Agriculture Ministry, more than 90 percent of all
sales of organic food are in the US or Europe.
Officials said the deal with open up export markets to organic farmers |
"This
partnership connects organic farmers and companies on both sides of the
Atlantic with a wide range of new market opportunities," US Deputy
Agriculture Secretary Merrigan said in a statement.
The
agreement seeks to boost trade in the expanding organic food industry by
reducing the number of regulations placed on companies. Companies currently
have to abide by both regions' organic regulations in order to export food
products.
"Organic
farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less
bureaucracy and less costs, to both the US and the EU markets, strengthening
the competitiveness of this sector," Ciolos said.
Less
bureaucracy
In addition
to cutting down on paperwork for food producers, the deal is also meant to help
them save money as they will be able to forgo organic certification by two sets
of authorities. Certification in the US can cost hundreds of dollars.
There are,
however, a few exceptions to the shared standards because of the regions'
differing rules on the use of antibiotics. Wine has also been left out of the
agreement because European standards regarding additives do not currently
exist.
Some organic apples will be excluded from the deal |
US apples
and pears, which can be sprayed with some antibiotics that are forbidden for
European fruits, will be excluded as will European meat and dairy products from
animals treated with antibiotics. While the practice is allowed under EU
organic regulations, US rules prohibit it.
The
European Commission's Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development
and the US Department of Agriculture's National Organic Program will be
responsible with overseeing producers meet organic guidelines.
Trans-Atlantic
trade accounted for 14.4 percent of European trade, making it the 27-member
bloc's largest trading partner, according to EU Commission statistics.
The EU has
already signed organic equivalence agreements with Argentina, Australia, Costa
Rica, India, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland.
Author: Sean Sinico
Editor: Holly Fox
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