Ares(2020)2051302

ANNEX

Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is amended as follows:

(1)points 1.8.5.1. to 1.8.5.5. are replaced by the following:

‘‘1.8.5.1. By way of derogation from point 1.8.1, where the data collected in the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2) shows that the qualitative or quantitative needs of the operator regarding relevant organic plant reproductive material are not met, the operator may use in-conversion plant reproductive material in accordance with point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 10(4).

Where organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material is not available in sufficient quality or quantity to fulfil the operator’s needs, competent authorities may authorise the use of non-organic plant reproductive material subject to points 1.8.5.3. to 1.8.5.7.

Such individual authorisation shall only be issued in one of the following situations:

(a)where no variety of the species that the operator wants to obtain is registered in the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2);

(b)where no supplier, meaning an operator who markets plant reproductive material, is able to deliver the relevant organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material in time for sowing or planting in situations where the user has ordered the plant reproductive material in reasonable time to allow the preparation and supply of organic or in conversion plant reproductive material;

(c)where the variety that the operator wants to obtain is not registered as organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material in the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2), and the operator is able to demonstrate that none of the registered alternatives of the same species are appropriate in particular to the agronomic and pedo-climatic conditions and necessary technological properties for the production to be obtained and that, therefore, the authorisation is significant for his or her production;

(d)where it is justified for use in research, test in small-scale field trials, for variety conservation purposes or for product innovation and agreed by the competent authorities of the Member State concerned.

Prior to requesting any such authorisation, the operator shall consult the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2) in order to verify whether relevant organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material is available and thus whether his or her request is justified.

When in compliance with Article 6 (i) operators may use both organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material obtained from their own holding, irrespective of the qualitative and quantitative availability according to the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2).

1.8.5.2. By way of derogation from point 1.8.1., operators in third countries may use in-conversion plant reproductive material in accordance with point (a) of the second subparagraph of Article 10(4) when organic plant reproductive material is justified to be not available in sufficient quality or quantity in the territory of the third country in which the operator is located.

Without prejudice to relevant national rules, operators in third countries may use both organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material obtained from their own holding.

Control authorities or control bodies recognised in accordance with Article 46(1) may authorise operators in third countries to use non-organic plant reproductive material in an organic production unit when organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material is not available in sufficient quality or quantity in the territory of the third country in which the operator is located, under the conditions laid down under points 1.8.5.3, 1.8.5.4 and 1.8.5.5.

1.8.5.3. Non-organic plant reproductive material shall not be treated after harvest with plant protection products other than those authorised for the treatment of plant reproductive material in accordance with Article 24(1) of this Regulation, unless chemical treatment has been prescribed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/2031 for phytosanitary purposes by the competent authorities of the Member State concerned for all varieties and heterogeneous material of a given species in the area in which the plant reproductive material is to be used.

Where the non-organic plant reproductive material treated with the prescribed chemical treatment referred to in the first paragraph is used, the parcel on which the treated plant reproductive material is growing shall be subject, where appropriate, to a conversion period as provided in points 1.7.3. and 1.7.4.

1.8.5.4. The authorisation to use non-organic plant reproductive material shall be obtained before the sowing or planting of the crop.

1.8.5.5. The authorisation to use non-organic plant reproductive material shall be granted to individual users for one season at a time, and the competent authorities, control authority or body responsible for authorisations shall list the quantities of the authorised plant reproductive material.

(2)the following points 1.8.5.6. and 1.8.5.7. are inserted:

“ 1.8.5.6. The competent authorities of the Member States shall create an official list of species, subspecies or varieties (grouped if applicable) for which it is established that organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material is available in sufficient quantities and for the appropriate varieties in their territory. No authorisations shall be issued for the species, subspecies or varieties included in that list in the territory of the Member State concerned pursuant to point 1.8.5.1. unless these are justified by one of the purposes referred to in point 1.8.5.1.(d). If the quantity or quality of organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material available for a species, subspecies or variety on the list turns out to be insufficient or inappropriate, due to exceptional circumstances, the competent authorities of the Member States may remove a species, subspecies or variety from the list.

The competent authorities of the Member States shall keep their list updated on an annual basis and shall make that list publicly available.

By 30 June each year and for the first time by 30 June 2022, the competent authorities of the Member States shall transmit to the Commission and to the other Member States the link to the internet website where the updated list is made publicly available. The Commission shall publish the links to the national updated lists on a dedicated website.

1.8.5.7. By way of derogation from point 1.8.5.5., the competent authorities of the Member States may annually grant a general authorisation to all operators concerned for the use of:

(a) a given species or subspecies when and in so far as no variety is registered in the database referred to in Article 26(1) or the system referred to in point (a) of Article 26(2);

(b) for a given variety when and in so far as the conditions laid down in point 1.8.5.1.(c) are fulfilled.

When using a general authorisation, operators shall keep records of the quantity used and competent authority responsible for authorisations shall list the quantities of authorised non-organic plant reproductive material.

The competent authorities of the Member States shall keep the list of species, subspecies or varieties for which a general authorisation is issued updated on an annual basis and shall make that list publicly available.

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EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

1.CONTEXT OF THE DELEGATED ACT

Following the adoption of the new organic regulation, which will enter into application on 1 January 2021, it is necessary to adopt this Delegated Regulation amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 as regards the use of in-conversion and non-organic plant reproductive material, because producers need to have legal certainty on the new rules that will apply for these different categories of plant reproductive materials and EU Member States need to have enough time to integrate these new rules into their national legislations.

2.CONSULTATIONS PRIOR TO THE ADOPTION OF THE ACT

The act was thoroughly discussed with Member States at the Group of Experts on Organic Production as well as with the main organisations representing the organic sector and plant reproductive material sectors, namely IFOAM and their sector specific affiliated groups, COPA-COGECA and ESA. DG AGRI cooperated closely with other DGs in the field of their specific expertise when drafting these rules, in particular with DG SANTE. WTO partners were notified and general public consultations were carried out.

3.LEGAL ELEMENTS OF THE DELEGATED ACT

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 underlines in its recital 35 that to ensure quality, traceability, compliance and adaptation to technical developments, the power to adopt certain acts is delegated to the Commission among others in respect of the use of in-conversion or non-organic plant reproductive material.

This delegated act amends current provisions concerning the possible use of in-conversion and non-organic plant reproductive material taking into account the long term phasing out of the established derogation for use of non-organic plant reproductive material laid down under Article 53 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and the need to promote organic production of such material.

COMMISSION DELEGATED REGULATION (EU) …/...

of XXX

amending Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards the use of in-conversion and non-organic plant reproductive material

(Text with EEA relevance)

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to 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 1 , and in particular Article 12(2)(b) thereof,

Whereas:

(1)Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and in particular Part I of Annex II thereto, lays down certain requirements with regard to the use of in-conversion and non-organic plant reproductive material.

(2)In view of the phasing out of the derogations from the use of organic plant reproductive material laid down in Article 53 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, it is important to increase the production and placing on the market of organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material.

(3)In accordance with Article 10(4) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, plant reproductive material may be marketed as “in-conversion” when a conversion period of at least 12 months is respected. Pursuant to Article 26(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 Member States are to ensure that a regularly updated database is established for the listing of the organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material, excluding seedlings but including seed potatoes, which is available in their territories. Moreover, Article 26(2) requires Member States to have in place systems that allow operators that market organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material and that are able to supply them in sufficient quantities and within a reasonable period, to make public on a voluntary basis, free of charge, together with their names and contact details, information on the organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material, such as plant reproductive material of organic heterogeneous material or of organic varieties suitable for organic production, excluding seedlings but including seed potatoes, which is available with the quantity in weight of that material and the period of the year of its availability. However, Article 26(5) provides that Member States may continue to use relevant information systems that are already in existence.

(4)It is therefore important when organic plant reproductive material is not sufficiently available and such unavailability is demonstrated through records collected in the above-mentioned database and systems, to prioritise the use of in-conversion plant reproductive material over non-organic plant reproductive material. In addition, in accordance with Article 6(i) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, the use of self-produced organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material should be allowed.

(5)Taking into account the current divergent practices in Member States, it is also of particular importance to harmonise the specific criteria and conditions for issuing authorisations to use non-organic plant reproductive material where organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material is not available in sufficient quality or quantity. Such harmonisation should permit to avoid potential unfair competition in organic production and ensure that certain precautionary provisions are applied to plant reproductive material and, in case of prescribed phyto-sanitary treatments, it should be subject where appropriate to a period of conversion of the parcel as provided in points 1.7.3. and 1.7.4. of Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848.

(6)Despite the efforts undertaken by operators involved in the production of organic plant reproductive material, there are still many species, subspecies or varieties for which organic and in-conversion plant reproductive material is not available and for which it is necessary to simplify the process of authorisations by reducing the administrative burden without jeopardising the organic nature of the products. Therefore, and in order to reduce the number of requests for individual authorisations, it is appropriate to provide for annual national general authorisations for species, subspecies or varieties, subject to certain conditions, and for the adoption of national lists of species or subspecies for which appropriate varieties of organic or in-conversion plant reproductive material are available in sufficient quantity. That approach should permit to limit the recourse to individual authorisations. In addition, those national lists constitute relevant information, which is expected to increase knowledge and certainty in the sector of organic plant reproductive material and thus to facilitate the further development both in this highly specialised production sector and in the use of organic plant reproductive material.

(7)Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 should therefore be amended accordingly.

(8)In the interest of clarity and legal certainty, this Regulation should apply from the date of application of Regulation (EU) 2018/848,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Part I of Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 1 January 2021.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Commission

The President
Ursula VON DER LEYEN

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