Quality schemes
Article 47
Member States which include in their CAP Strategic Plans interventions related to quality schemes, referred to in Article 77(1), point (c), of Regulation (EU) 2021/2115, shall ensure that national recognised quality schemes cover: (a) quality schemes, including farm certification schemes, for agricultural products, cotton or foodstuffs, recognised by the Member States as complying with the following criteria: (i) the specificity of the final product under such schemes is derived from clear obligations to guarantee any of the following: — specific product characteristics, — specific farming or production methods, or — a quality of the final product that goes significantly beyond the commercial commodity standards as regards public, animal or plant health, animal welfare or environmental protection; (ii) the scheme is open to all producers; (iii) the scheme involves binding product specifications and compliance with those specifications is verified by public authorities or by an independent inspection body; (iv) the scheme is transparent and assures complete traceability of products; (b) voluntary agricultural product certification schemes recognised by the Member States as meeting the Union best practice guidelines for the operation of voluntary certification schemes referred to in Commission Communication of 16 December 2010 entitled ‘EU best practice guidelines for voluntary certification schemes for agricultural products and foodstuffs’ ( 15 ) relating to agricultural products and foodstuffs.