European Commission - Notification on the End of Equivalence Regime and Transition to Compliance Regime

To the attention of our clients who are certified within the scope of EU Organic Program,

As we have informed you before, ETKO is now entitled to conduct audits within the scope of EU compliance and the equivalence scope has ended on 31.12.2024. Accordingly, the notification sent to ETKO from the European Commission is below.

According to this notification, we would like to inform you that the issuance of COI within the scope of equivalence has ended and that we will issue COI within the scope of compliance from now on.

Best regards

 Incoming Notification;

 Expiration of your recognition as Control Body for the purpose of equivalence (Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 - Article 57 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848)

Dear Sir/Madam,

According to Article 57(1) of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (1), your recognition as Control Body granted under Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (2) will expire on 31 December 2024 (so-called equivalence regime).

As from 1 January 2025, therefore, you will not be able anymore to operate in the TRACES environment for the purpose of operations related to the issuance of Certificates of Inspections. You are therefore invited to inform your operators in the third countries you are recognised for under Article 33(3) of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007, listed in Annex II to Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 (3), of the expiration of your recognition and its consequences.

As from 1 January 2025, only Control Authorities and Control Bodies recognised in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 will be authorised to carry out controls and to issue organic certificates in third countries (the so-called compliance regime).