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30.09.2021 (Обновлено: 08.07.2022 13:34)

EEC started implementing roadmap for creating Union’s common market for organic agricultural products

The Eurasian Economic Commission, jointly with the Eurasian Economic Union countries, has started implementing the roadmap for creating the Union’s common market for organic agricultural products approved by the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council on August 20.

This issue became a talking point at the round table "Forming the common market for organic agricultural products within the EAEU" involving Deputy Ministers of Agriculture of the EAEU States, Heads of relevant state institutions and industry business associations as well as representatives of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations International Food Program and the Codex Alimentarius Commission chaired by Artak Kamalyan, EEC Minister in charge of Industry and Agriculture.

"The importance of work on developing organic agriculture is due to the need to meet rising demand both in the internal and premium third markets as well as implementing relevant matters of the international agenda to ensure sustainable development of agriculture and reduce adverse environmental impact", Artak Kamalyan noted.

Today, the functioning of the Union’s common market for organic goods is hindered by a number of factors. This includes the difference between the EAEU States’ national legislations in terms of requirements for manufacture, marking, certification of such products and accreditation by conformity assessment bodies.

Elaboration of draft International Treaty planned by the roadmap is aimed at solving these issues which will finally ensure unhindered circulation of organic products in the EAEU. It is also planned to address the issues of forming and unifying statistical accounting of production, import and circulation of organic agricultural products.

The discussion attendees exchanged views on trends in developing this sector in the Union and third countries and submitted proposals for implementing the roadmap activities on forming the EAEU common market for organic agricultural products. The discussion results will become basic guidelines for preparing draft International Treaty at the expert level.

For reference

According to expert estimates, today the share of areas involved in organic agriculture does not exceed 1% of the EAEU total arable land and its production is characterized by raw materials specialization. According to the Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FIBL), the annual market volume has already exceeded 150 bln Euro and in the coming years, the growth trend will be only reinforced in light of the global trend for a healthy lifestyle and environmental protection.