EU Shows That The Organic Regulation Would Not Be Extended to Cover The Textiles Sector

The European Commission, which is in the final stages of a review of the current European Union (EU) organic legislation, has decided that the legal basis of its organic regulation would not be extended to cover the textiles sector.
 
The executive council or the Directorate General for Agriculture and Rural Development Commission (DG Agriculture) concluded that the legal basis of the organic regulation should not be extended to cover products such as textiles and cosmetics, stating that organic farming should remain focused on agriculture since it is a crucial instrument to deliver environmental services and boost development, innovation and employment in rural areas.
 
The EU Commission (DG Agriculture) is in the final stages of a comprehensive review of the EU organic regulation which looks at four key issues: simplifying the legal framework, whilst ensuring standards are not compromised, co-existence of GM crops with organic farming, better control systems and trade arrangements for organic products and impact of labeling rules.
 
However, the Certification and Control of Organic Products (CCPB), has termed the EU’s decision to not to include textiles as a lost opportunity as the organic textiles sector could have benefitted greatly from the legislation.
 
Many operators in the textile sector, including certification bodies such as CCPB had called for the inclusion of textiles under the organic regulation.