Moldovan organic products export to EU market to be facilitated

Chisinau, Dec. 21 /MOLDPRES/- The certificates issued for agri-food products will be recognized on the European market, and the export of organic production to the EU will be facilitated, the government's communication and protocol department has reported.

The executive today approved the draft Law on organic agri-food production and labeling of organic products. The new provisions will contribute to the smooth functioning of the internal market, ensuring fair competition and increasing citizens' trust in products labeled as ecological.

It sees international recognition of control bodies from the Republic of Moldova. Thus, local producers will be able to export their products to the EU with the mention "ecological". At the same time, international certification bodies, accredited in the EU, will no longer be obliged to accredit themselves in our country. This will allow producers to access subsidies, even if they certify their production to international authorities. Until now, only producers who submitted files to the national authorities benefited from subsidies.

The draft also establishes the rules applicable to organic production. Thus, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs), soil fertilizers and other prohibited products in eco-agriculture is not allowed. Products labeled as organic will contain at least 95% organic ingredients. In order to have such products, farmers will only use seeds obtained by organic methods, and subsequently the organic products will be kept separately from the non-organic ones.

At the same time, the law establishes a surveillance system in the field of organic agriculture and establishes the powers of the competent authorities. To ensure a more rigorous control, the National Agency for Food Safety is included in the certification process. The document also establishes the unique model for certificates to be issued to producers.

Currently, in the Republic of Moldova, there are 150 companies specializing in the cultivation of organic products.

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