美歐締結有機食品貿易夥伴 標章可相互承認 | 環境資訊中心
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美歐締結有機食品貿易夥伴 標章可相互承認

2012年02月28日
摘譯自2012年2月21日ENS德國,紐倫堡報導;段譽豪編譯;蔡麗伶審校

開心飲用有機紅酒的賓客。(Soil Association提供)全球規模最大的紐倫堡世界有機產品貿易展(BioFach World Organic Fair)甫於2月中旬結束,美國與歐盟在期間簽訂最新的貿易夥伴關係協議,自2012年6月1日起,經歐盟或是美國所認證的有機產品,在兩地均可相互承認,直接以有機產品名義銷售。

所有符合協議內容的產品,可以標示為有機認證產品、肉品、穀物或是酒類進行貿易。

美國與歐盟有機食品產值共高達400億歐元(530億美元),而且正逐年增加中。這項夥伴關係的目的是建立一個堅實的基礎,促進有機農業和有機產業的增長。

在以前,果農和企業要在大西洋兩岸進行產品貿易,必須依照兩邊標準取得認證,這意味著雙重的收費、稽核以及文書行政作業成本。新的夥伴關係,則是去除了這層對中小型有機產製者特別造成困難的藩籬。

歐盟執委會農業與農村發展專員喬洛許(Dacian Ciolos)表示,「這項協議有雙重附加價值。一方面來說,有機農及有機食品生產者,會因為通路難度降低、官僚科層組織簡化與、較低的成本而受益;另一方面,則可以增強美國與歐盟市場在有機食品方面的競爭力。此外,它也提高了有機標準的透明度,增強了消費者的信心以及對我們有機食品與產品的辨識度。」

雖然美國與歐盟的有機標章規範存有些許差異,兩者均認定雙方的標準是相容的──除了抗生素禁用規定。美國農業部的有機規範限制抗生素使用,但用在蘋果與梨子果園中外來細菌感染的火傷病則例外;歐盟的有機規範,則只允許對感染的動物施用抗生素。

未來,在此夥伴關係下交易的所有產品,驗證機構必須確認不得以任何理由使用抗生素。

所有在這夥伴關係下交易的產品交運時,均必須取得有機出口認證。認證文件會註明產地、認證有機產品的機構、確認沒有禁用的物質與製程、驗證滿足夥伴關係之規定,並使所貿易的產品可加以追蹤。

USA, European Union Sign Organic Foods Trade Partnership
NUREMBERG, Germany, February 22, 2012 (ENS)

As of June 1, 2012, organic products certified in Europe or in the United States may be sold as organic in either region under a new partnership agreement signed last week in Nurember at the BioFach World Organic Fair, the world's largest trade show for organic products.

All products meeting the terms of the agreement can be traded and labeled as certified organic produce, meat, cereal, or wine.

The organic food sector in the United States and European Union is valued at roughly 40 billion euros (US$53 billion) combined, and rising every year.

This partnership is intended to establish a strong foundation from which to promote organic agriculture and the growing organic industry.

Previously, growers and companies wanting to trade products on both sides of the Atlantic had to obtain separate certifications to two standards, which meant a double set of fees, inspections, and paperwork.

The new partnership eliminates these barriers, which have been especially difficult for for small and medium-sized organic producers.

"This agreement comes with a double added value," said Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development . "On the one hand, organic farmers and food producers will benefit from easier access, with less bureaucracy and less costs, to both the U.S. and the EU markets, strengthening the competitiveness of this sector. In addition, it improves transparency on organic standards, and enhances consumers' confidence and recognition of our organic food and products."

Although there are small differences between the U.S. and European Union organic standards, both parties individually determined that their programs are equivalent except for the prohibition on the use of antibiotics.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's organic regulations prohibit the use of antibiotics except to control invasive bacterial infections such as fire blight in organic apple and pear orchards.

The European Union organic regulations allow antibiotics only to treat infected animals.

For all products traded under this partnership, certifying agents must verify that antibiotics were not used for any reason.

All products traded under the partnership must be shipped with an organic export certificate. This document will show the production location, identify the organization that certified the organic product, verify that prohibited substances and methods were not used, certify that the terms of the partnership were met, and allow traded products to be tracked.

作者

蔡麗伶(LiLing Barricman)

In my healing journey and learning to attain the breath awareness, I become aware of the reality that all the creatures of the world are breathing the same breath. Take action, here and now. From my physical being to the every corner of this out of balance's planet.