Measures in case of suspicion of infringements and irregularities
Article 91
1. Where an operator considers or suspects that a product which he has produced, prepared, imported or that he has received from another operator, is not in compliance with organic production rules, he shall initiate procedures either to withdraw from this product any reference to the organic production method or to separate and identify the product. He may only put it into processing or packaging or on the market after elimination of that doubt, unless it is placed on the market without indication referring to the organic production method. In case of such doubt, the operator shall immediately inform the control body or authority. The control authority or control body may require that the product cannot be placed on the market with indications referring to the organic production method until it is satisfied, by the information received from the operator or from other sources, that the doubt has been eliminated. 2. Where a control authority or control body has a substantiated suspicion that an operator intends to place on the market a product not in compliance with the organic production rules but bearing a reference to the organic production method, this control authority or control body can require that the operator may provisionally not market the product with this reference for a time period to be set by that control authority or control body. Before taking such a decision, the control authority or control body shall allow the operator to comment. This decision shall be supplemented by the obligation to withdraw from this product any reference to the organic production method if the control authority or control body is sure that the product does not fulfil the requirements of organic production. However, if the suspicion is not confirmed within the said time period, the decision referred to in the first subparagraph shall be cancelled not later than the expiry of that time period. The operator shall cooperate fully with the control body or authority in resolving the suspicion. 3. Member States shall take whatever measures and sanctions are required to prevent fraudulent use of the indications referred to in Title IV of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 and Title III and/or Annex XI of this Regulation.