Commission Decision of 4 August 2021 setting up the expert group for technical advice on organic production (EGTOP)2021/C 343/03

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Whereas:

1. Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽¹⁾ defines objectives and principles applicable to organic production and lays down basic requirements with regard to the production, labelling and control of organic products.

2. The Commission needs technical advice to take decisions on the authorisation of products, substances and techniques for use in organic farming and processing in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848. The Commission also needs technical advice when considering the development or improvement of other organic production rules and, more generally, for any other technical matter of organic production. For such advice, the Commission needs to call upon the expertise of specialists in an advisory body.

3. It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of organic production and to define its tasks and its structure, in compliance with Commission Decision C(2016) 3301 final⁽²⁾.

4. The group should consist of scientists with expertise on the relevant products, substances and techniques and of experts with competences related to organic production, capable of delivering independent, excellent and transparent technical advice to the Commission.

5. Commission Decision 2009/427/EC⁽³⁾ established an expert group for the purposes of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007⁽⁴⁾. That group delivered opinions on some categories of substances and products used in organic production. The decisions on the authorisation of those substances were delayed several times because of the lack of available experts. Under the new legal framework of Regulation (EU) 2018/848, more categories of substances will need to be evaluated, such as substances for cleaning and disinfection and specialised and innovative techniques and methods in food processing. Therefore, the number of opinions requested have increased seriously, while the available experts willing to participate without remuneration in an expert group to assist the Commission have diminished.

6. The new group of experts should deliver to the Commission opinions on technical dossiers with regard to the authorisation of products, substances and techniques for use in organic farming and processing and with regard to other organic production rules and other technical matters of organic production. Those opinions are essential to the development and monitoring of the Union’s policy and legislation on organic production, in particular to the adoption of implementing acts by the Commission, such as those referred to in Articles 16(3), 17(3) and 24(9) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Without independent advice provided by independent experts, the Union policy concerned could not reach its objectives. Therefore, the members of the group should receive special allowances beyond reimbursement of expenses, which is proportionate to the particular tasks attributed to them and in line with international standards.

7. Article 6, point (a), of Regulation (EU) No 1306/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽⁵⁾ provides for the financing of measures relating to technical and administrative assistance.

8. Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be laid down.

9. Personal data should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council⁽⁶⁾.

10. Decision 2009/427/EC should be repealed,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: