TITLE VITRADE WITH THIRD COUNTRIES
Article 33Import of products providing equivalent guarantees
1.
A product imported from a third country may also be placed on the Community market as organic provided that:
(a)
the product has been produced in accordance with production rules equivalent to those referred to in Titles III and IV;
(b)
the operators have been subject to control measures of equivalent effectiveness to those referred to in Title V and such control measures have been permanently and effectively applied;
(c)
the operators at all stages of production, preparation and distribution in the third country have submitted their activities to a control system recognised in accordance with paragraph 2 or to a control authority or control body recognised in accordance with paragraph 3;
(d)
the product is covered by a certificate of inspection issued by the competent authorities, control authorities or control bodies of the third country recognised in accordance with paragraph 2, or by a control authority or control body recognised in accordance with paragraph 3, which confirms that the product satisfies the conditions set out in this paragraph.
The original of the certificate referred to in this paragraph shall accompany the goods to the premises of the first consignee; thereafter the importer must keep the certificate at the disposal of the control authority or the control body for not less than two years.
2.
The Commission may, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37(2), recognise the third countries whose system of production complies with principles and production rules equivalent to those laid down in Titles II, III and IV and whose control measures are of equivalent effectiveness to those laid down in Title V, and establish a list of these countries. The assessment of equivalency shall take into account Codex Alimentarius guidelines CAC/GL 32.
When examining requests for recognition, the Commission shall invite the third country to supply all the necessary information. The Commission may entrust experts with the task of examining on-the-spot the rules of production and the control measures of the third country concerned.
By 31 March of each year, the recognised third countries shall send a concise annual report to the Commission regarding the implementation and the enforcement of the control measures established in the third country.
Based on the information in these annual reports, the Commission assisted by the Member States ensures appropriate supervision of the recognised third countries by regularly reviewing their recognition. The nature of the supervision shall be determined on the basis of an assessment of the risk of the occurrence of irregularities or infringements of the provisions set out in this Regulation.
3.
For products not imported under Article 32 and not imported from a third country which is recognised under paragraph 2 of this Article, the Commission may, in accordance with the procedure referred to in Article 37(2), recognise the control authorities and control bodies, including control authorities and control bodies as referred to in Article 27, competent to carry out controls and issue certificates in third countries for the purpose of paragraph 1, and establish a list of these control authorities and control bodies. The assessment of equivalency shall take into account Codex Alimentarius guidelines CAC/GL 32.
The Commission shall examine any request for recognition lodged by a control authority or control body in a third country.
When examining requests for recognition, the Commission shall invite the control authority or control body to supply all the necessary information. The control body or the control authority shall undergo regular on-the-spot evaluation, surveillance and multiannual re-assessment of their activities by an accreditation body or, as appropriate, by a competent authority. The Commission may also entrust experts with the task of examining on-the-spot the rules of production and the control measures carried out in the third country by the control authority or control body concerned.
The recognised control bodies or control authorities shall provide the assessment reports issued by the accreditation body or, as appropriate, the competent authority on the regular on-the-spot evaluation, surveillance and multiannual re-assessment of their activities.
Based on these assessment reports, the Commission assisted by the Member States shall ensure appropriate supervision of recognised control authorities and control bodies by regularly reviewing their recognition. The nature of the supervision shall be determined on the basis of an assessment of the risk of the occurrence of irregularities or infringements of the provisions set out in this Regulation.