Commission Regulation (EC) No 1073/2000
of 19 May 2000
amending Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs
THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 of June 1991 on organic production of agricultural products and indications referring thereto on agricultural products and foodstuffs(1), as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 331/2000(2), and in particular Article 13, second indent thereof,
Whereas:
(1) There is a need to extend in Annex I to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 the possible use of micro-organisms for compost activation to cover also the use of such organisms for improving the overall condition of the soil and the availability of nutrients in the soil or crops. It is also necessary to exclude any genetically modified micro-organisms for such uses, and to bring the provisions concerning the use of livestock manure in line with the provisions related thereto in part B, section 7 of this Annex.
(2) In accordance with the procedure provided for in Article 7(4) of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, certain Member States have submitted information in view of the inclusion of certain products in Annex II or in view of amending certain provisions in this Annex.
(3) The amendments of Annex II concern products which were in common use before the adoption of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 according to the codes of practice on organic farming followed in the Community and, therefore, are in accordance with the provisions of Article 7(1a) of that Regulation. The amendments for certain of these products are urgent in the light of the upcoming agricultural season.
(4) It appeared that "glycerol", "silicon dioxide" and "isopropanol" are essential for the preparation of certain foodstuffs. These products can therefore be included in Annex VI taking into account the requirements of Article 2 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No 207/93(3), as amended by Regulation (EC) No 345/97(4), defining the content of Annex VI to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.
(5) It is necessary to clarify in the "General principles" of Annex VI that the practice of smoking is accepted in the preparation of foodstuffs from organic production.
(6) It is necessary to bring the provisions in Annex VI, with regard to genetically modified organisms and products derived from such organisms, in line with the overall prohibition accepted in the context of Council Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999(5).
(7) It is appropriate to introduce for certain products minor technical or editorial amendments. It is also necessary to introduce certain editorial amendments to take into account amendments of Regulation (EC) No 1804/1999.
(8) The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the Committee referred to in Article 14 of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annexes I, II and VI to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 shall be amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the seventh day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.
It shall apply forthwith. However, the provisions of Annex I, part headed "A. PLANT AND PLANT PRODUCTS", points 2.1 and 2.2, to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, shall apply from 24 August 2000.
The product "animal charcoal" listed in Annex II, part A, of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, before the date of entry into force of this Regulation, may continue to be used under the previously applicable conditions until existing stocks are exhausted but not later than 30 September 2000.
The product "calcium carbonates" listed in Annex VI to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, under more restrictive conditions than those before the date of entry into force of this Regulation, may continue to be used under the previously applicable conditions until existing stocks are exhausted but not later than 30 September 2000.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 19 May 2000.