Date: 2022-06-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 40/2022 of 4 February 2022 amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations, standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2022/1088]
Executive Summary:
EEA Joint Committee Decision No 40/2022 amends Annex I and Annex II to the EEA Agreement to incorporate several EU Commission Regulations concerning veterinary and phytosanitary matters, specifically regarding organic and in-conversion products. These regulations cover official controls, inspections, information submission, certification, and lists of recognized third countries and control bodies. The decision entered into force on February 5, 2022, or the entry into force of Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 31/2022 of 4 February 2022, whichever is later.
Key Points / Main Content:
Amendments to Annex I of the EEA Agreement:
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723 is amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1935 regarding information and data on organic production and labeling.
* Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU) 2019/2124 are amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305.
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 is added, concerning exemptions from official controls for organic products at border control posts.
Amendments to Chapter XII of Annex II of the EEA Agreement:
* Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 is replaced by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 regarding official controls on imported organic products and certificates of inspection, with adaptations for Iceland and Norway concerning customs procedures and identification numbers.
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 is amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2119.
* Commission Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/2119, (EU) 2021/2307, and (EU) 2021/2325 are added, concerning records, declarations, certificates, documents, notifications, lists of third countries, and control authorities for organic imports.
* Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723 is amended by Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1935.
* Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU) 2019/2124 are amended by Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305.
* Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625 is added, concerning exemptions from official controls for organic products at border control posts.
Impact Analysis:
Operators and Groups of Operators:
* Impact: Must comply with new rules on records, declarations, and certificates.
* Action Required: Adapt practices to align with Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/2119 and (EU) 2021/2307.
Importers of Organic and In-conversion Products:
* Impact: Subject to revised official control and inspection procedures.
* Action Required: Ensure compliance with Delegated Regulations (EU) 2021/2306 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2307, and verify that third-country control bodies are recognized under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325.
Control Authorities and Control Bodies:
* Impact: Must adhere to updated requirements for inspection and certification.
* Action Required: Align operations with Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325.
Iceland and Norway:
* Impact: Specific adaptations apply regarding customs procedures and identification in certificates of inspection.
* Action Required: Implement the adaptations specified in Article 2(1) of the Decision.
Liechtenstein:
* Impact: This Decision does not apply to Liechtenstein.
* Action Required: No action required.
Key Entities Referenced
EEA Joint Committee: The decision-making body responsible for adopting decisions related to the EEA Agreement.
EEA Agreement: Agreement on the European Economic Area
European Parliament: Legislative branch of the European Union.
Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2021/2305: A regulation supplementing Regulation EU 2017/625 regarding exemptions from official controls for organic products.
Commission Delegated Regulation EU 2021/2306: A regulation supplementing Regulation EU 2018/848 regarding official controls for organic products intended for import into the Union.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2021/1935: A regulation amending Implementing Regulation EU 2019/723 regarding information and data on organic production.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2021/2119: A regulation laying down detailed rules on records, declarations, and certificates for operators, groups of operators, and exporters in third countries.
Commission Implementing Regulation EU 2021/2325: A regulation establishing a list of third countries, control authorities and control bodies recognized for importing organic products into the Union.
30.6.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 175/67
DECISION OF THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE No 40/2022
of 4 February 2022
amending Annex I (Veterinary and phytosanitary matters) and Annex II (Technical regulations,
standards, testing and certification) to the EEA Agreement [2022/1088]
THE EEA JOINT COMMITTEE,
Having regard to the Agreement on the European Economic Area (βthe EEA Agreementβ), and in particular Article 98
thereof,
Whereas:
(1) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/625
of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the cases where and conditions under which organic
products and in-conversion products are exempted from official controls at border control posts, the place of
official controls for such products and amending Commission Delegated Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU)
2019/2124(1)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(2) Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 of 21 October 2021supplementing Regulation (EU) 2018/848
of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the official controls in respect of consignments of
organic products and in-conversion products intended for import into the Union and on the certificate of
inspection(2)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(3) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1935 of 8 November 2021amending Implementing Regulation
(EU) 2019/723 as regards the information and data on organic production and labelling of organic products to be
submitted by means of the standard model form(3)is to be incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(4) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2119 of 1 December 2021laying down detailed rules on certain
records and declarations required from operators and groups of operators and on the technical means for the
issuance of certificates in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the
Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 as regards the issuance of the
certificate for operators, groups of operators and exporters in third countries(4)is to be incorporated into the EEA
Agreement.
(5) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2307 of 21 October 2021laying down rules on documents and
notifications required for organic and in-conversion products intended for import into the Union(5) is to be
incorporated into the EEA Agreement.
(6) Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 of 16 December 2021establishing, pursuant to Regulation
(EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the list of third countries and the list of control
authorities and control bodies that have been recognised under Article 33(2) and (3) of Council Regulation (EC)
No 834/2007 for the purpose of importing organic products into the Union(6)is to be incorporated into the EEA
Agreement.
(7) Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 repeals Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008(7), which is
incorporated into the EEA Agreement and which is consequently to be repealed under the EEA Agreement.
(1) OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 5.
(2) OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 13.
(3) OJ L 396, 10.11.2021, p. 17.
(4) OJ L 430, 2.12.2021, p. 24.
(5) OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 30.
(6) OJ L 465, 29.12.2021, p. 8.
(7) OJ L 334, 12.12.2008, p. 25.L 175/68 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.6.2022
(8) This Decision concerns legislation regarding veterinary matters, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs. Legislation regarding
veterinary matters, feedingstuffs and foodstuffs shall not apply to Liechtenstein as long as the application of the
Agreement between the European Community and the Swiss Confederation on trade in agricultural products is
extended to Liechtenstein, as specified in the sectoral adaptations to Annex I and the introduction to Chapter XII of
Annex II to the EEA Agreement. This Decision is therefore not to apply to Liechtenstein.
(9) Annexes I and II to the EEA Agreement should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Annex I to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The following is added in points 11ba (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723) in Part 1.1 of Chapter I
and 31qa (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723) of Chapter II:
β, as amended by:
β 32021 R 1935: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1935 of 8 November 2021 (OJ L 396,
10.11.2021, p. 17).β
2. The following is added in points 11bv (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2123) and 11bw (Commission
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124) in Part 1.1 of Chapter I and 31qv (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU)
2019/2123) and 31qw (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124) of Chapter II:
β, as amended by:
β 32021 R 2305: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021(OJ L 461, 27.12.2021,
p. 5).β
3. The following point is inserted after point 11c (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466) in Part 1.1 of
Chapter I:
β11d. 32021 R 2305: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021 supplementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the cases where and
conditions under which organic products and in-conversion products are exempted from official controls at
border control posts, the place of official controls for such products and amending Commission Delegated
Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU) 2019/2124 (OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 5).β
4. The following point is inserted after point 31r (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/466) of Chapter II:
β31s. 32021 R 2305: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021 supplementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the cases where and
conditions under which organic products and in-conversion products are exempted from official controls at
border control posts, the place of official controls for such products and amending Commission Delegated
Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU) 2019/2124 (OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 5).β
Article 2
Chapter XII of Annex II to the EEA Agreement shall be amended as follows:
1. The text of point 54bb (Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008) shall be replaced by the following:
β32021 R 2306: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 of 21 October 2021 supplementing Regulation
(EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the official controls in respect of
consignments of organic products and in-conversion products intended for import into the Union and on the
certificate of inspection (OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 13).30.6.2022 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 175/69
The provisions of the Regulation shall, for the purposes of this Agreement, be read with the following adaptations:
(a) In Article 7(1) the words βor in accordance with Icelandic and Norwegian custom proceduresβ shall be inserted after
the reference to Regulation (EU) No 952/2013.
(b) In the certificates of inspection for imports of organic and in-conversion products, Iceland and Norway are not
required to use EORI numbers for identification.β
2. The following shall be added in point 54bh (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378):
β, as amended by:
β 32021 R 2119: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2119 of 1 December 2021 (OJ L 430,
2.12.2021, p. 24).β
3. The following points shall be inserted after point 54bl (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1698):
β54bm. 32021 R 2119: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2119 of 1 December 2021 laying down
detailed rules on certain records and declarations required from operators and groups of operators and on the
technical means for the issuance of certificates in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European
Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 as
regards the issuance of the certificate for operators, groups of operators and exporters in third countries
(OJ L 430, 2.12.2021, p. 24).
54bn. 32021 R 2307: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2307 of 21 October 2021 laying down
rules on documents and notifications required for organic and in-conversion products intended for import
into the Union (OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 30).
54bo. 32021 R 2325: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 of 16 December 2021 establishing,
pursuant to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council, the list of third
countries and the list of control authorities and control bodies that have been recognised under Article 33(2)
and (3) of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 for the purpose of importing organic products into the
Union (OJ L 465, 29.12.2021, p. 8).β
4. The following shall be added in point 164a (Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/723):
β, as amended by:
β 32021 R 1935: Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1935 of 8 November 2021 (OJ L 396,
10.11.2021, p. 17).β
5. The following is added in points 164v (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2123) and 164w (Commission
Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2124):
β, as amended by:
β 32021 R 2305: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021(OJ L 461, 27.12.2021,
p. 5).β
6. The following point shall be inserted after point 164x (Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2126):
β164y. 32021 R 2305: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2305 of 21 October 2021 supplementing
Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council with rules on the cases where and
conditions under which organic products and in-conversion products are exempted from official controls at
border control posts, the place of official controls for such products and amending Commission Delegated
Regulations (EU) 2019/2123 and (EU) 2019/2124 (OJ L 461, 27.12.2021, p. 5).βL 175/70 EN Official Journal of the European Union 30.6.2022
Article 3
The texts of Delegated Regulations (EU) 2021/2305 and (EU) 2021/2306 and Implementing Regulations (EU) 2021/1935,
(EU) 2021/2119, (EU) 2021/2307 and (EU) 2021/2325 in the Icelandic and Norwegian languages, to be published in the
EEA Supplement to the Official Journal of the European Union, shall be authentic.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on 5 February 2022, provided that all the notifications under Article 103(1) of the EEA
Agreement have been made*, or on the day of the entry into force of Decision of the EEA Joint Committee No 31/2022 of
4 February 2022(8), whichever is the later.
Article 5
This Decision shall be published in the EEA Section of, and in the EEA Supplement to, the Official Journal of the European
Union.
Done at Brussels, 4 February 2022.
For the EEA Joint Committee
The President
Nicolas VON LINGEN
(*) No constitutional requirements indicated.
(8) See page 49 of this Official Journal.