BioFach 2016

In March 2014 the European Commission published its legislative proposal for a new organic regulation. The next and last step in this process is represented by the ‘trilogue’ negotiations between the three EU institutions to agree on a final legal text, presumably at the beginning of 2016. Taking into consideration the three institutions’ proposals, trilogue outcomes on certain regulation areas can be already foreseen and discussion can be kicked off. The policy day will bring together EU policymakers and the organic sector to discuss the current organic regulation revision process and the changes the sector may have to face. Exchange on the EU organic regulation with decisionmakers and experts, including:

Presenter: Marco Schlüter, IFOAM EU, Belgium

Speakers:

Martin Häusling, Member of the European Parliament and rapporteur on the organic dossier
Miltiades Krimizis, Organics Unit, DG Agriculture and Rural Development, European Commission
Christopher Stopes, IFOAM EU President
Bavo van den Idsert, Bionext Director
Thomas Fertl, BioAustria Head Agricultural Policy

As part of the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2014‑2020 new policy instruments and regional and national Rural Development Programmes are coming in effect in 2015 and 2016. How can these policies help to make European more organic? Presentation of findings of a study conducted by FiBL for IFOAM EU.

Speakers:

Stephen Meredith, IFOAM EU, Belgium
Matthias Stolze, FiBL  Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, Switzerland
Sebastian Mittermaier, Naturland, Germany
Dorota Metera, BIOEKSPERT, Poland

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This communication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Introduction to the new/intended import rules of the EU and discussion of expected impacts on the international organic trade. Certain aspects such as the compliance/equivalency approach and the organic trade agreements will be deepened in the discussions between experts. Organised by IFOAM EU and FiBL.

Presenter: Beate Huber, FiBL ‑ Forschungsinstitut für biologischen Landbau, Switzerland

Speakers:

Christopher Atkinson, Soil Association Ltd., United Kingdom
Miltiades Krimizis – Unit B4 Organics – DG AGRI – European Commission
Antoine Faure, European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC), Belgium
Karst Kooistra, Tradin Organic, the Netherlands

IFOAM EU developed a shared vision for the organic movement in Europe to fill the Organic 3.0 concept with life. One of the central aspects of this shared vision is the commitment to find tools for ensuring fairness, transparency and integrity across the value chain.

Speakers:

Marco Schlüter, IFOAM EU, Belgium
Christopher Stopes, IFOAM EU, Belgium
Karst Kooistra, Tradin Organic, the Netherlands
Antoine DE VAUBERNIER, Stonefield France

The joint IFOAM EU and EOCC’s workshop will discuss ways to ensure organic integrity and a performant model for risk based approaches for inspection and certification, clarifying the responsibilities of the different stakeholders of the sector, discussing possible paths for upcoming implementing and delegated acts in order to make the voice of the organic stakeholders heard in the decision process.

The workshop will briefly present the policy context and what science says on the benefits of organic productionand finally will discuss how the organic sector can contribute to the efforts against climate change.

Speakers:

Eric Gall, IFOAM EU, Belgium
Tobias Bandel, Soil & More International BV, The Netherlands
Michel Reynaud, Ecocert S.A., France