Inspections Across Borders

Naturally, the inspections are not limited to Germany. The EU Organic Farming Regulation applies throughout the European Union thus guaranteeing a uniform standard of organic quality.

Organic foods from non-EU countries (so-called third countries) may only be imported if they were produced under equivalent conditions of production, processing and inspection which must be as effective in protection from misuse and must offer the consumer the greatest possible safety.

The competent authorities in the EU control these equivalence regulations for third countries and supervise their observance. Import companies based in Germany are also inspected by the German inspection authorities.

So far, the EU has officially ascertained this equivalence for six third countries: Argentina, Australia, Costa Rica, Israel, New Zealand and Switzerland. For imports from other countries the Federal Agency for Agriculture and Food ( BLE) which is responsible for import licenses must make a new decision in each individual case.

Since July 6th, 2006, India has been on the third country list for non-processed agricultural produce and food that consists in essence of one or more ingredients from plant origin (see regulation (EU) no. 956/2006 of 28.06.06). Therefore the "simplified" procedure in line with article 11 para. 1 of the EU Organic Farming Regulation applies to these organic products. Applications for marketing permissions do not have to be submitted for the products mentioned above any longer. The goods must, however, still be certified and accompanied by an inspection certificate where option article 11 para. 1 has to be marked in field 2.

The importing party notifies the inspection body or authority of every shipment that is to be imported into the EU (appendix III part C no. 3 of the EU Organic Farming Regulation) at the latest by the time the inspection certificate is presented to customs. The importing party must keep this inspection certificate for examination by the inspection body and/or the inspection authority for at least two years. (article 11 para. 3 a).

Thus, there are no changes to the previous procedure of inspection and certification of the participating businesses, issuing of inspection certificates and notification of imports.

Applications for marketing permissions in line with the procedure of article 11 para. 6 of the EU Organic Farming Regulation must still be submitted for all animal products (including honey) from India.