According to Taiwan's "Central News Agency," the United States and the European Union signed an agreement in Nuremberg, Germany today to integrate organic food certification, in order to simplify administrative procedures and facilitate the sale of organic crops produced in Europe and the United States in each other's markets. It is initially estimated that this agreement could bring 40 billion euros in benefits to both sides.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
According to the English weekly "European Voice," the European Union and the United States signed this agreement in Nuremberg to integrate their respective organic food certifications, which can reduce unnecessary administrative procedures and facilitate operators in selling goods in both markets.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
In principle, starting from June 1 of this year, organic crops produced in Europe and the United States can be directly sold in each other's markets. Since the consumption of organic food in European and American countries accounts for 90% of the global market, it is estimated that after the integration of the two sides' certification agreement, they can jointly benefit by 40 billion euros.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
The market share of organic food in the European Union is growing at an annual rate of 6%. The European Union hopes that the integration of the certification agreement can promote an even faster increase in the market share of EU organic food.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
Dacian Ciolos, the European Commissioner responsible for Agriculture and Rural Development, stated that the agreement integrating the two sides' certification mechanisms helps make organic food certification standards more transparent, strengthens consumer confidence in products, and enhances recognition of organic food and products.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
The report stated that before the integration of organic food certification between the European Union and the United States, the two sides' respective organic food certification regulations were largely similar, with the difference being that the United States allows antibiotics to be used on apples and pears to avoid invasive bacterial infections, while the European Union only agrees that antibiotics may be used on animals infected by pathogens.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/
In the end, both sides agreed to a comprehensive ban on the use of antibiotics and reached an agreement, so that operators can greatly save costs on verification fees, paperwork, and inspection.文章源自FOFCC-http://fofcc.org.cn/am/11363/