EU Implements Electronic System for Certificates of
Inspection
The European Union (EU) is implementing a new system of
electronic certificates of inspection for imports of organic products from the
United States (and other third countries) in the Trade Control & Expert System
(TRACES) – the EU’s existing electronic system for tracking movements of food
products across the EU. This online management tool facilitates the exchange of
information between EU trading parties and control authorities, such as the
Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) National Organic Program.
Under the current organic equivalency arrangement between
the United States and the EU, certified operations must ship organic products
with an EU certificate of inspection, completed by a USDA-accredited certifier.
The implementation of updates to EU TRACES will digitize the certification
documentation for organic products imported to EU member countries.
EU TRACES becomes effective on April 19, 2017. Once
effective, U.S. certifiers will have an additional six months to adapt to using
the system, during which time paper and electronic certificates of inspection
will coexist in the marketplace. The system will become fully electronic
beginning October 19, 2017, after which time organic imports will be covered only by
e-certification.
To help certifiers and other authorities comply with this
new requirement, the EU has provided instructions and plans to conduct
training. To learn more:
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