Wine Law

216 WINE LAW 3. THE REGULATION OF ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTION UNTIL 31 DECEMBER 2021 3.1. The 2007 Regulation on production and labelling of organic products The participation of the organic farming sector has continued to increase in most Member States, and the rise in consumer demand in recent years is notable. In this context, organic product legislation plays an increasingly important role in agricultural policy and is closely linked to the evolution of agricultural markets. Communication COM (2004) 415 final proposed to improve and strengthen Community rules on organic farming and import and control requirements. In its conclusions of 18 October 2004, the Council invited the Commission to review the Community legal framework in this area, in order to simplify it and ensure its general coherence and, in particular, to establish principles that promote the harmonisation of standards and, if possible, reduce the level of detail. Accordingly, Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, of 28 June 15 is approved and, as mentioned, repeals Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, defining the objectives, principles and rules applicable to organic production, while, at the same time, contributing to transparency and consumer confidence and establishing a harmonised definition of the concept of organic production. The organic sector’s dynamic evolution, some very sensitive issues related to the organic production method and the need to ensure not only the proper functioning of the internal market but a control system recommend that a future review of the Community provisions on organic farming be foreseen, taking into account the experience acquired with the application of these standards. The 2007 Regulation has provided the basis for the sustainable development of organic production methods, while ensuring the efficient functioning of the internal market, fair competition, protection of consumer interests and consumer confidence. This Regulation established common objectives and principles to support the standards it put forward, referring to all stages of production, preparation and distribution of organic products and their controls, as well as the use of indications on labelling and advertising that refer to the ecological production. Title III, Chapter 4, of the Regulation established the basic requirements relating to the organic production of processed food, and the provisions for applying such requirements were set in place by Commission Regulation (EC) 15 DOUE of 20 June 2007.