Supervision of third countries recognised as equivalent for organic farming production

5.11.2024

Question for written answer  E-002409/2024
to the Commission
Rule 144
Gilles Pennelle (PfE)

A 2012 audit by the European Court of Auditors of the control system governing the production, processing, distribution and imports of organic products states, on page 39, that ‘given that the Commission services have no internal procedures on how the supervision of recognised third countries should be carried out, it is uncertain when the Commission on-the-spot visits should be conducted after third countries are included in the list. [...] no regular on-the-spot visits have been conducted to third countries (e.g. last visit to Israel in 1999, last visit to Costa Rica in 2000)’.

• 1.Since 2012, has the European Commission had a plan in place for regular monitoring of third countries recognised as equivalent for organic farming production?
• 2.Since 2012, what visits have been made to third countries recognised as equivalent?

Submitted: 5.11.2024