WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A new partnership between the United States and European Union will create more opportunity for farmers of organic products, said the U.S. Department of Agriculture Monday.
Under the U.S.-EU equivalency partnership, organic products certified in the United States or European Union may now be sold as organic in either market.
Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, and Ambassador Isi Siddiqui, U.S. Trade Representative signed off on the deal back in February.
"This partnership will open new markets for American farmers and ranchers, create more opportunities for small businesses, and result in good jobs for Americans who grow, package, ship, and market organic products," said Ag Secretary Merrigan. "Equivalency arrangements such as this are critical to growing the U.S. organics industry."
Current statistics show two-thirds of U.S. consumers buy organic products occasionally while 28 percent buy organic products weekly.
According to the USDA, the United States signed a similar partnership with Canada in July 2009 and additional equivalency arrangement conversations have already begun with South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.
For more on this agreement, please visit http://www.ams.usda.gov/NOPTradeEuropeanUnion
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