A series of reports from Europe’s Food and Veterinary Office reveals ways organic controls could be improved. FVO auditors visited 14 of the 28 EU member states to review organic control systems from 2012 to 2014. Among their findings: Most of the controls systems they visited were well organized, but there were significant deficiencies in two member states. Other significant issues the FVO observed during certifier’s organic inspection visits include:

• Irregularities or non-compliances were not always identified during inspections
• Inspectors did not verify systematically the information provided by the operators; Inspections were conducted in a superficial manner;
• Input/output balances, and identity checks were not carried out systematically and, when they were carried out, inspectors did not always adequately verify thedocumentary accounts referred in Article 66 of Regulation (EC) No 899/2008;
• Insufficient verification of precautionary measures to be taken by operators to reduce the risk of contamination with unauthorized products/substances or mixing with nonorganic products;
• Inappropriate measures taken in case of non-compliances;
• Traceability checks during inspections at operators were not always carried out in a systematic and adequate manner.
  
  Similar audits were done in Argentina, Australia, India, Israel, Switzerland and Tunisia. Export certification systems for organic products were in place in all cases. Weaknesses were identified in the supervision of the Control Bodies by national authorities and in the effectiveness of controls at operators.
  
  There were five audits to Control Bodies recognized by the Commission for the export of organic products to the EU. Export certification systems were generally reliable, although some weaknesses were identified in the effectiveness of controls at operators.
  
  Read the full reports: http://ec.europa.eu/food/fvo/overview_reports/index.cfm