This group will aim to grant the Commission 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.

The Official Journal of the European Union has published on June 5th 2009, Commission's Decision (2009/427/CE) of June 3rd,  establishing the expert group for technical advice on organic 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, 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.

Given that these are complex and time consuming exercises, for which a high degree of specialisation is required, the Commission will be assisted by a group of experts that will giving technical advice for the decision-making and rules development relating to  the use of products, substances and techniques in organic farming and processing.

Tasks of the expert group for technical advice on organic production

• Evaluating products, substances and techniques which can be used in organic production, taking into account objectives and principles laid down in Regulation (EC) Nº 834/2007.
• Improving existing rules and developing new production rules.
• Bringing about an exchange of experience and good practices in the field of organic production.

The group will be composed of 13 members appointed by the Commission from specialists with competence in the area of organic production. The Commission may also establish a pool list of candidates that could not be appointed as permanent members although they were considered suitable for a position in the group in the course of the selection procedure.

In agreement with the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development, sub-groups may be set up to examine specific questions under terms of reference established by the group. Such groups will be dissolved as soon as their mandates are fulfilled. Sub-groups will be composed of up to seven members from the members of the group or from the pool list.