PURPOSE: to conclude the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Chile on trade in organic products.
NON-LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2017/2307 on the conclusion of the Agreement between the European Union and the Republic of Chile on trade in organic products.
CONTENT: by this Decision, the Agreement between the European Union and Chile on trade in organic products is hereby approved on behalf of the Union.
In addition to fostering trade in organic products, the Agreement envisages the following actions:
- expansion of the organic sector in the EU and Chile;
- achieving a high level of respect for the principles of organic production, of guarantee of the control systems and of integrity of organic products;
- improved protection of the respective organic logos of the Union and Chile;
- enhanced regulatory cooperation between the Parties on issues related to organic production.
Equivalence agreement: the Union and Chile shall recognise the equivalence of their respective rules on organic production and control systems as regards organic products.
Joint committee: the Joint Committee on Organic Products established pursuant to the Agreement, deals with certain aspects of the implementation of the Agreement. In particular, it has the power to amend the lists of products in Annexes I and II to the Agreement. The Commission should be authorised to represent the Union in the Joint Committee.
The Commission should be empowered to approve amendments to the lists of products in Annexes I and II to the Agreement, on the condition that it inform the representatives of the Member States. It should also be empowered to unilaterally suspend the recognition of equivalence, on the condition that it inform the representatives of the Member States prior to doing so.
In cases where representatives of the Member States representing a blocking minority object to the position presented by the Commission, the Commission should not be allowed to approve amendments to the lists of products in Annexes I and II or to suspend the recognition of equivalence. In such cases, the Commission should present a proposal for a Council decision on the basis of Article 218(9) of the Treaty.
The Agreement also provides for a system of co-operation, exchange of information and dispute settlement in organic trade.
ENTRY INTO FORCE: 01.01.2018.