G/TBT/N/EU/841  
1 October 2021  
(21-7357) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  EUROPEAN UNION   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  European Commission  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
European Comm ission,  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point,  
Fax: +(32) 2 299 80 43,  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
Website: http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -databases/tb t/en/  
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [X], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Organic 
products  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Commission 
Implementing Regulation establishing, pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the 
European Parliament and of the Council, the list of third countries and the list of control 
authorities and control bodies that have been recognised under Article 33(2) and (3) of 
Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 for the purpose of importing organic products into 
the Union (9 page(s), in English; 19 page(s), in English; 72 page (s), in English)  
6. Description of content:  This act lays down the list of third countries as well as control 
authorities and control bodies already recognised for the purpose of equivalence under 
Article 33(2) and 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 in order for them to be able to 
continue their activities of certification and control for the purpose of equivalence during 
their respective transition periods established according to Regulation (EU) 2018/848.  
In addition, this Act also contains a number o f requests for scope extension from already 
recognised control bodies, few requests for recognition from new control bodies as well 
as the withdrawals of several control bodies.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  The new organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848, repealing Regulation (EC) 
834/2007, grants the possibility for third countries as well as control authorities and 
control bodies already recognised for the purpose of equivalence under Article 33( 2) and 
33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 to continue performing their activities of 
certification and control for the purpose of equivalence during their respective transition 
periods. These transition periods will expire by 31/12/2026 for recognised th ird countries 
and by 31/12/2024 for recognised control authorities and control bodies, as mentioned 
by the Regulation (EU) 2020/1693 (postponing for one year the entry into application of G/TBT/N/EU/841  
 
- 2 - 
 
  Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Counc il amending 
Regulation (EU) 2018/848. However, further to the repealing of Regulation (EC) 
834/2007, Regulation (EC) 1235/2008 containing the list of recognised third countries 
(Annex III) as well as control authorities and control bodies (Annex IV) for th e purpose 
of equivalence will be also repealed on 31/12/2021. In order to ensure that the third 
countries, control authorities or control bodies already recognised can continue operating 
during their relevant transition periods under that scheme, it is nec essary to adopt an 
implementing act maintaining their recognition. The content of the draft implementing act 
is essentially identical to annexes III and IV of Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008. In addition, 
a limited number of new control bodies as well as some  requests for scope extensions 
from already recognised control authorities or control bodies have been incorporated to 
this act. This act gives effect to the withdrawal of recognition of some control bodies. To 
avoid a period in which third countries, cont rol authorities and control bodies are not 
recognised under EU law for the purpose of equivalence, this implementing act shall enter 
into application by 01/01/2022.; Other  
8. Relevant documents:   
Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council on organic 
production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) 
834/2007  
https://eur -lex.europa.eu/leg al-
content/EN/TXT/?qid=1554367642614&uri=CELEX:02018R0848 -20180614  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  10 December 2021  
Proposed date of entry into force:  On the twentieth day following that of its 
publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.  
 
The provisions shall apply at the latest by 1 January 2022.  
10. Final date for comments:  45 days from notification  
11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [ ] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
European Commission,  
EU-TBT Enquiry Point,  
Fax: + (32) 2 299 80 43,  
E-mail: grow-eu-tbt@ec.europa.eu  
 
The text is available on the EU -TBT Website : http://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools -
databases/tbt/en/  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/EEC/21_6265_00_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/EEC/21_6265_01_e.pdf  
https://members.wto.org/crnattachments/2021/TBT/EEC/21_6265_02_e.pdf