In 2020, A.I.S.E. established Working Group on Organic Food Production, in order to define the position of the professional cleaning and hygiene products industry regarding the positive list of authorised substances in annex IV of the upcoming Commission Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products.
A.I.S.E. prepared a first position paper in January 2021 which was submitted to the European Commission (DG AGRI). In the paper besides other things, it was noted that the prohibition of the use of certain substances might drive applicants to use or switch to cleaning and disinfection products which are less or not effective, and could result in a failure to maintain the required high hygiene and quality standards. It was also pointed out in that clearly defined criteria for the selection of substances that would achieve the goals of the legislation should be used instead of "positive lists” of substances/products that will be too complex to manage.
The Working Group is continuing its work and provided feedback to the Commission’s public consultation in April 2021.
The European Commission plans for the new annex IV for cleaning and disinfection products of the Regulation to enter into force on 1 January 2024.