Core prompt：The Government of Colombia and the European Commission announced today the start of negotiations towards a bilater
The Government of Colombia and the European Commission announced today the start of negotiations towards a bilateral agreement on trade in organic products between the European Union and Colombia.
Both sides confirmed their interest to swiftly conclude, at the end of the negotiations, an agreement that would allow a larger market for organic farmers, reduced burden for companies and more organic products available to consumers. Although not part of the Trade Agreement in force since 2013 between the EU and Colombia and Peru, this new agreement will be earmarked in the privileged relationship of cooperation and trade facilitation that has been established since then.
EU Commissioner Phil Hogan is visiting Colombia from 7 to 9 February 2016, accompanied by a delegation of 35 European businesses representing a wide range of the European Union's agri-food sector.
In the framework of Commissioner's Hogan visit, a high level event on organics took place at Bogota today. Long established and recognised EU organic companies were able to provide the participants with their global vision on organic production and marketing of organic products and to exchange views on the development of the sector in Colombia.
Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development of Colombia Aurelio Iragorri Valencia and EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Phil Hogan met earlier today in Bogota.
Both the European Union and Colombia are currently examining each other's organic legislation. The agreement on trade in organic products between the EU and Colombia will be based on the mutual recognition of each other's production rules and controls system as equivalent. It will reduce administrative burden for producers and operators. It will also aim at fostering technical dialogue and cooperation between the parties to the benefit of producers and consumers of organic products.
