A new document, the Organic Certificate of Inspection, has been introduced to meet the requirements of an EU regulation introduced on 1st November 2002. In the UK, this regulation, which affects importers of organic produce and their agents, will be enforced by national legislation from 1st January 2003.
DEFRA's Organic Farming Branch has advised traders to use the interim period between now and the 1st January to trial and test the new procedures and, in order to assist traders, SITPRO have published a briefing on Importing Goods of Organic Origin (Certificate of Inspection). The briefing, which has been produced by SITPRO in association with DEFRA and members of SITPRO's DEFRA International Trade Consultation Task Force, provides details of the new documentation and procedures.
The CoI is issued in the country of export by the body certifying the goods as organic. Before the organic goods are released by Customs into free circulation, the importer or his appointed agent will be required to present this document to the Port Health Authority for endorsement, which after 1 January will be subject to a charge.
Without an endorsed CoI, imported produce may not be marketed as "organic". In the UK the organic certifying bodies will regularly audit importers on whether an endorsed CoI has been obtained. Failure to comply with the requirement may result in fines or imprisonment.
If importers and traders of organic produce have more questions, they are advised to contact DEFRA's Organic Farming Branch at organic.imports@defra.gsi.gov.uk 
or the Port Health Authority responsible for the port at which they intend clear their goods.
SITPRO Electronic News Bulletin - 12 November 2002
Return to SITPRO News: Electronic Bulletins