Implementation of the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming (state July 2008)
Action 1: Information campaign
Introduce amendments in Council Regulation (EC) No 2826/2000 (internal market promotion) which would give the Commission greater possibilities for direct action in order to organise information and promotion campaigns on organic farming.
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Action 2: Internet database on the private and national standards
Establish and maintain an Internet database listing the various private and national standards (including international standards and national standards in main export markets) compared to the Community standard.
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Action 3: Statistical data
Improve the collection of statistical data on both production and market of organic products
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Action 4: Top-up support for producer organisations in F&V sector
Allowing Member States to top-up with aids the EU support devoted to producer organisations in the fruit and vegetable sector involved in organic production.
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Action 5: Web-based menu listing EU measures
The Commission will develop a web-based menu listing all EU measures that can be used by the organic sector in relation to production, marketing and information.
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Action 6: Use of Rural Development Programme instruments
The Commission strongly recommends Member States to make full use within their rural development programmes of the instruments available to support organic farming, for example by developing national or regional Action Plans focussing on:
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Action 7: Research
Strengthen research on organic agriculture and production methods.
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Action 8: Defining the principles of organic farming
Making the regulation more transparent by defining the basic principles of organic agriculture.
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Action 9: Maintaining the deadlines for the derogations
Ensuring the integrity of organic agriculture by reinforcing the standards and maintaining the foreseen end dates of the transitional periods.
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Action 10: Complete and harmonise the standards
Complete and further harmonise the standards for organic agriculture by:
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Action 11: Expert panel for technical advice
Establishing an independent expert panel for technical advice.
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Action 12: GM contamination
Including provisions in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 clarifying
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Action 13: Risk based approach and cross inspections
Improve the performance of the inspection bodies and authorities by introducing a risk-based approach targeting operators presenting the highest risk in terms of fraudulent practices, and by requiring cross-inspections under Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.
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Action 14: Develop sampling and analytical methods
Continue the ongoing work in the JRC to develop sampling and analytical methods which can be used in organic farming.
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Action 15: Use of land parcel identification
Member States should study the possibility of using land parcel identification established for the CAP management for the location and monitoring of the land under organic farming.
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Action 16: Better co-ordination over inspection activities
Ensure better coordination among inspection bodies and between the inspection bodies and the enforcement authorities under Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.
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Action 17: Specific accreditation system for organic inspection bodies
Develop a specific accreditation system for inspection bodies under Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.
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Action 18: Publishing information on breaches
The Commission will publish the annual report from the Member States on the supervision of approved inspection bodies including statistics on type and number of breaches.
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Action 19: Imports and equivalency
Step up efforts to include third countries in the equivalency list, including on-the-spot assessments.
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Action 20: International standards and capacity building
Establish a systematic comparison between the Community standard on organic farming, Codex Alimentarius guidelines and the IFOAM standards (see also Action 2).
Step up efforts towards global harmonisation and development of
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Action 21: International negotiation mandate
Reinforce recognition of EU organic farming standards and inspection systems in third countries by obtaining a negotiation mandate from the Council.
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