EU Legislation Review and Electronic Certificate of Inspection: State of play Biofach, 11 February 2016 DG Agriculture and Rural Development Unit B4 Organics 1
Legislation review State-of-play 2
Ordinary legislative procedure March 2014: Commission Proposal June 2015: Council General Approach October 2015: European Parliament Report Trilogues New Regulation on Organic Production and Labelling 3
Commission Proposal Hearings: 72 experts (Sept - Nov 2012) Public consultation (Jan April 2013): 45 000 replies All stakeholders associated (CDG + enlarged meetings + bilateral meetings) Impact Assessment Legislative proposal adopted in March 2014 Action plan Proposal for negotiating directives on international agreements adopted by the Council in June 2014 4
Council General Approach Presidencies: Greece (1/2014), Italy (2/2014), Latvia (1/2015) Technical discussions at the Working Party on Foodstuff Quality Meetings of the Special Committee on Agriculture Meetings of the Council of Ministers of Agriculture Adopted by the Council at the meeting of 16 June 2015 under Latvian Presidency 5
European Parliament report Elections in May 2014 Rapporteur: Mr Martin Häusling (Greens), appointed in September 2014 COMAGRI: 1322 amendments to the Commission Proposal COMENVI delivered opinion in May 2015 Report adopted by COMAGRI on 13 October 2015 with 402 amendments Vote on a motion allowing the start of the trilogues with the Council and the Commission 6
Trilogues Luxemburgish Presidency (2/2015): 2 meetings Dutch Presidency (1/2016): 6 meetings, one per month First meeting held in January Goal: political agreement in June 7
Electronic Certificate of Inspection State-of-play 8
Outline 1. Introduction 2. Organic certificate of inspection 3. Changes to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 4. About TRACES 5. Achieved results 6. Next steps 9
1. Introduction Council recommendations (Ref. 2011/COU/0201) further to the European Court of Auditors' Special Report No 9/2012 The Council invites the Commission, in co-operation with Member States to assess the feasibility of establishing European electronic import certificates in order to facilitate and reinforce the control procedures at EU border. 10
1. Introduction Action No 12 of the Action Plan for the Future of Organic Production in the EU (Ref. COM(2014)179 final) - The Commission will develop: A system of electronic certification for import, as a module integrated into the TRACES system (future information Management System for Official Controls IMSOC) by 2015. 11
1. Introduction Expected benefits: Better traceability Reduced fraudulent behaviours Less administrative burden for operators and authorities Available statistical data on organic imports More confidence for the European consumers 12
2. Organic Certificate of Inspection Certificate of inspection for import of products from Organic Production into the EU model in Annex V and Annex VI of Commission Regulation No 1235/2008 The latest consolidated version:http://eurlex.europa.eu/legalcontent/en/txt/pdf/?uri=celex:02008r1235-20151106&qid=1455013245078&from=en 13
3. Changes to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 to introduce e-certification Discussions with MS started in the second part of 2015 to amend Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 for example: Serial number issued automatically in TRACES (ref. Art. 13(4)) EU official language versions will be available in the system -(ref. Art. 13(5)) NB: Transition period envisaged (paper and electronic system to work in parallel). After transition period, only e-coi to be used: legal value is on 'paper' (stamped/signed), until e-signature in place 14
4. About TRACES A trans-european network which started in 2004 with notification, certification and monitoring of trade in animals and animal products, and has been extended since to plants and plant products A web-based network accessible to all actors involved in generation, issuing and endorsing of electronic certificates Advantages: Accessible: non-stop 24/7 Secure: password-protected with limited access Link to RASFF for animals/animal products Fully electronic: (e-signature in pilot phase) 15
5. Achieved results E-COI and extract COI developed ('crush-tests' ongoing): Training environment by March 2016 and in production by April 2016 Pilot phase until 2017 Access allowed to all actors involved (relevant competent authorities, control bodies/authorities, importers, first consignees) Link to irregularity module in OFIS (Organic Farming Information System) Linking TC/CB recognition with individual products (tariff lines/cn codes) and product categories 16
COI Workflow Importer: * Submits COI to Issuing body Description Completed Issuing body (IB): Verifies submission/ creates new COI AND signs IB Declaration signed Certificate reached final state Clearable as conventional Endorsing Authority: * Verifies consignment as: Not clearable Certificate reached final state Importer: initiates Extract COI Consignee: Signs declaration Extract COI Submitted Consignee declaration signed Endorsing authority (EA): Signs declaration EA declaration signed Extract Certificate reached final state ('Mother') Certificate reached final state Extract COI initiated from Base for Extract Base for Extract Clearable * OFIS Irregularity: Can be declared by Consignees, Importers and Control bodies/authoriti es after certificate has been signed by the Endorsing Authority 1 st Consignee: * Signs declaration 1 st Consignee declaration signed Certificate reached final state
5. Achieved results Extensive consultation and information sessions in DG TAXUD's customs experts groups, Civil Dialogue Group, stakeholders (2014-2015) Tests and workshops with relevant national authorities (February + Sep/October 2015) 18
6. Next steps Information and training activities envisaged for 2016: Targeted workshop on e-coi in Biofach on 11 February 2016 (16h 18h @ Exhibitor's forum: Saal Hongkong, NCC Ost) Specific training for customs with DG TAXUD (end February 2016) Targeted workshop for EU competent authorities (end February 2016) + equivalent third countries (TBC) Training under the BTSF 2016 and beyond E-certification of operators in the EU, and operators in TC under compliance: business analysis in 2016 for development in 2017 19
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