Introductory text

THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to 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, and in particular Article 33(2) and (3) and Article 38(d) thereof,

Whereas:

Annex III to Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008^f2 sets out the list of third countries whose systems of production and control measures for organic production of agricultural products are recognised as equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.

The Republic of Korea submitted a request in accordance with Article 33(2) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 to the Commission to be included in the list set out in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 for certain processed agricultural products. It submitted the information required pursuant to Articles 7 and 8 of that Regulation. The examination of that information, subsequent discussions with the authorities of the Republic of Korea and an on-the-spot examination of the rules of production and the control measures applied in the Republic of Korea have led to the conclusion that in that country the rules governing production and controls of organic production of processed agricultural products for use as food are equivalent to those laid down in Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. Consequently, the Republic of Korea should be included in the list set out in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 for processed agricultural products for use as food (Category D products).

Annex IV to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 contains a list of control bodies and control authorities competent to carry out controls and issue certificates in third countries for the purpose of equivalence. As a consequence of the inclusion of the Republic of Korea in Annex III to that Regulation, the relevant control bodies and control authorities recognised until now for the import of Category D products from the Republic of Korea should be deleted from Annex IV.

Annexes III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 should therefore be amended accordingly.

The inclusion of the Republic of Korea in Annex III to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 should apply from 1 February 2015. In order to allow operators to adapt to the amendments made to Annexes III and IV to Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008, the amendment of the latter Annex should, however, apply only after a reasonable time period.

The measures provided for in this Regulation are in accordance with the opinion of the regulatory Committee on organic production,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: