The organic production sector in Spain does not fear the entry of products cultivated or produced under this model from South America into the European market as a result of the free trade agreement with Mercosur. However, it urges EU authorities to ensure reciprocity in the application of the pact so that European organic farmers and livestock producers can compete on equal terms with their counterparts in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
“Unlike conventional farmers or livestock producers, the organic sector does not fear the entry of South American products into the European market because they must comply with the same legal requirements for cultivation and rearing as our production, as they have to be certified under EU regulations,” explains Álvaro Barrera, president of Ecovalia, the main representative organisation for the sector in Spain.
Mutual Recognition with Mercosur
“For more than 15 years, the European Union has had equivalence agreements on organic production with Mercosur countries (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay), as well as with Chile, Mexico, and the United States. Therefore, we are not concerned about the free trade agreement because the rules are already the same regarding fertilisers, pesticides, waiting periods, and inspections,” Barrera adds.
However, the implementation of the agreement requires that it be applied with a principle of reciprocity, which is not guaranteed at present. “European organic producers need the same recognition with these countries. In other words, a European-certified organic product that meets all guarantees and the same regulations as in Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, or Uruguay cannot currently enter their markets, and this needs to be addressed,” says Barrera.
In fact, Ecovalia believes that, with proper reciprocity, the EU-Mercosur free trade agreement could become a significant growth opportunity for European organic production, as markets in Brazil and Argentina, in particular, could be very receptive to European products such as olive oil or wine.
“The agri-food sector is not opposed to free trade agreements per se; in fact, they can represent an opportunity. However, we demand reciprocity—equal rules on the table—because without it, competition is very difficult,” concludes Barrera.
