Impact of the EU Regulation on international trade

Within the context of the EU Regulation, the approach to assessing equivalence of third country (i.e. countries outside the EU) exports and their inspection systems are much the same as that developed by private certifiers. 

The Regulation clearly states in Article 12 that member states cannot restrict movement of organic products within the Community. Essentially any product from a registered producer operating within a member state, which complies with the Regulation, can be sold in any other member state. Finished products produced in any member state can be sold to 

The regulation of organic integrity of imports from outside the EU has proven to be a sensitive subject and the EU Commission are currently consulting member states on improving the mechanisms available, which, at the same time, reduce fraud and ensure equivalence of standards and inspection, but remain practical. 

Operators in countries outside of Europe wishing to supply an importer in any EU member state must be able to demonstrate that  

In addition, a consignment must be accompanied by an EU Certificate for the Import of Products from Organic Production , sometimes called a transaction certificate. The original must accompany the shipment to the first consignee and be kept by the importer for two years. The inspection/certification body who verified the operation of the exporter issues the certificate. 

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