Source: European Parliament
Imports of organic sugar from Brazil must be certified by control bodies recognised by the Commission in accordance with Article 46(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848[1] as competent to carry out controls and to issue organic certificates in compliance with the EU’s organic legislation.
The list of food additives authorised in organics is established in Regulation (EU) 2021/1165[2]. The food additives authorised are the same for producers in the EU including Guadeloupe and for organic producers in Brazil who wish to export to the EU.
In accordance with Article 45(2) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 the Commission may grant specific authorisations for the use of products and substances in third countries and in the outermost regions of the EU. The procedure to request an authorisation is established in Article 10 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1165.
A consultation[3] has recently been carried out on a proposed amendment of that regulation to provide, inter alia, a dedicated procedure for the outermost regions of the EU to make such requests.
On financing, the Common Agricultural Policy’s POSEI scheme (Programme d’Options Spécifiques à l’Eloignement et l’Insularité), with its high level of support and degree of subsidiarity, efficiently helps to strengthen local production.
In 2024, the French POSEI allocated EUR 74.86 million to the cane-sugar-rum measure. Finally, in line with Article 349 of the Treaty[4] and with its 2022 Communication[5] on the strategy for the outermost regions, the Commission continues to take into account the outermost regions’ sensitive products in negotiating free trade agreements (FTA), assessing their effect and taking measures in the event of potential negative impacts, including safeguard clauses.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/oj).
- [2] Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1165 of 15 July 2021 authorising certain products and substances for use in organic production and establishing their lists (http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/1165/oj).
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/14024-Organic-production-amended-list-of-authorised-products-and-substances_en
- [4] Article 349 of the Treaty on the functioning of the EU (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/tfeu_2012/art_349/oj/eng).
- [5] Communication (COM(2022)198 final: Putting people first, securing sustainable and inclusive growth, unlocking the potential of the EU’s outermost regions (https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX:52022DC0198).