BREXIT: Trade with organic products from 01.01.2021
Export of organic goods from the EU to the UK:
The following information was provided by the European Commission to the member states:
The UK has confirmed that it will recognize the EU as equivalent in terms of trade in organic products until December 31, 2021.
In addition, the requirement that EU organic products must be accompanied by a British certificate of inspection when imported into the UK will be withdrawn until June 30, 2021.
The corresponding UK regulation will come into force on December 31, 2020. In addition, the following guidelines can be found in the appendix: – FAQ Importing into GB – Step by step guidance for GB imports from third countries – GB Certificate of Inspection Import of organic goods from the UK into the EU: The publication of an amendment regulation to VO 1235/2008 that has already been adopted will be published soon. This lists 5 inspection bodies that will be approved in the UK to carry out inspections and certification in accordance with Article 33 (3) of Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007. These are: Biodynamic Association Certification, Organic Farmers & Growers C.I.C, Organic Farmers & Growers (Scotland) Ltd, Organic Food Federation, Quality Welsh Food Certification Ltd and Soil Association Certification Limited.
The original provisions can be found in following links – UK has provided a list of the published “Statutory Instruments”:
2019:
The Organic Production and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 – made on 26 March 2019 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/693/contents/made
The Organic Production (Control of Imports) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 – made on 26 March 2019 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/692/contents/made
The Organic Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) 2019 – made on 22 January 2019https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/109/contents/made The Agriculture (Legislative Functions) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 – made on 4 April 2019 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2019/831/introduction/made
2020:
The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020) corrects The Organic Productions (Control of Imports) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780348213317/regulation/5
The Common Organisation of the Markets in Agricultural Products (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2020) corrects The Agriculture (Legislative Functions) (EU Exit) (No. 2) Regulations 2019 –https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780348213386/regulation/12
The Organic Products (Production and Control) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 which corrects The Organic Production and Control (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 and The Organic Products (Amendment) (EU Exit) 2019– https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2020/9780348213492/contents
In addition, the UK has published guidelines for the marketing and labelling of organic products as of 01/01/2021: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/trading-and-labelling-organic-food-from-1-january-2021
Surprisingly, the UK and EU agreed on a trade deal shortly before the end of 2020. This also includes the trade in organic products and replaces the information that was published on January 5th, 2021.
Full mutual recognition of the following products is agreed in the new trade agreement:
All certificates issued by EU inspection bodies in accordance with the EU Organic Regulation are recognized in the UK, all certificates issued by UK inspection bodies in accordance with UK organic regulations are recognized in the EU.
With regard to the new EU Organic Regulation, equivalence will be reassessed by the end of 2023.
The full trade agreement can be found under this LINK, starting on page 577 you can read the provisions on organic trade.
The Austria Bio Garantie team will be happy to answer any further questions you may have!