Introductory text

THE COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community,

Whereas:

Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91^f1, defines objectives and principles applicable to organic production and lays down basic requirements with regard to production, labelling and control of organic products in the plant, livestock and aquaculture production.

With the Communication from the Commission to the Council and to the European Parliament on a European action plan for organic food and farming adopted in June 2004^f2, the Commission intends to assess the situation and to lay down the basis for policy development, thereby providing an overall strategic vision for the contribution of organic farming to the common agricultural policy. In particular, the European action plan for organic food and farming recommends, in action 11, establishing an independent expert panel for technical advice.

The Commission may need technical advice to decide on the authorisation of the use of products, substances and techniques in organic farming and processing, to develop or improve organic production rules and, more in general, for any other matter relating to the area of organic production. These are complex and time consuming exercises, for which a high degree of specialisation is required.

It is therefore necessary to set up a group of experts in the field of organic production and to define its tasks and its structure.

The group should help to ensure easy access to highly qualified technical expertise in a wide range of fields related to organic production.

The group should be composed of scientists and other experts with competences related to organic production and should deliver independent, excellent and transparent technical advice to the Commission.

Rules on disclosure of information by members of the group should be provided for, without prejudice to the Commission’s rules on security as set out in the Annex to Commission Decision 2001/844/EC, ECSC, Euratom^f3.

Personal data relating to members of the group should be processed in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 18 December 2000 on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data by the Community institutions and bodies and on the free movement of such data^f4,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: