New eu regulations on organic farming

European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development

New EU Regulation on organic farming New EU organic legislation a step forward for organic farming The dynamic development of the organic farming sector in the European Union has reached a new climax following the recent adoption of new legislation for organic production and labelling of organic products – Council Regulation (EC) No 834/20071, Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2082 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/20083.

The new organic legislation, which replaces the old Regulation (EEC) No 2092/914, is designed to be more flexible and less complicated than its predecessor.

EU Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mariann Fischer Boel, said the new Council Regulation would help consumers recognise organic products more easily and would provide better assurance of what organic stands for: “Organic food is a successful and growing market.

I hope that this set of visionary goals and objectives, with new principles and rules, will provide the framework to allow this growth to continue – driven by a combination of market demand and entrepreneurship among European farmers and processors.”

The new organic legislation has to be applied from 1 January 2009, at a time when over 6 million hectares of farmland in the EU are managed to organic standards. Recent studies reveal that the organic market in the EU is growing by a remarkable 10–15 % a year.5 1 OJ L 189, 20.7.2007, p. 1.

2 OJ L 250, 18.9.2008, p. 1.

3 OJ L 334, 12.12.2008, p. 25 4 OJ L 198, 22.7.1991, p. 1.

5 International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (2007) ’World of Organic Agriculture 2007’

Good for nature, good for you. www.organic-farming.europa.eu

European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development

EU agricultural ministers agreed on the new Council Regulation during the EU Council meeting in June 2007, following a long process of detailed reviewing which started in 2005. It is the first time in European history that the organic sector in all Member States is able to work within a framework containing strategic goals and objectives, as well as general and specific production principles for the development of a sustainable organic farming and processing sector.

The new Council Regulation introduces a range of simplified and improved rules on the production, labelling, and importing of organic products. Among the most important sections is the mandatory use of the EU organic logo on pre-packed organic food processed in the EU from 1Â July 2010. This will make it easier for the consumer to recognize organic food throughout the Common market and will enhance the free movement of organic products within the EU. A new import regime, will make the importing of organic products from countries outside the EU less complicated, without compromising the requirement for identical or equivalent production and inspection rules in the third countries.

The EU logo may also be used on organic food from third countries, although this is not mandatory. From 1 July 2010, whenever the EU logo is used, the label must indicate where the organic ingredients come from, from which country or from inside or outside the EU. As organic can be marketed food and beverages containing at least 95 % organic ingredients of all agricultural ingredients. However, food manufacturers can under certain conditions also specify organic ingredients in the list of ingredients of non-organic food and beverages. The use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) is still prohibited in organic products.

The scope of the organic legislation has been widened by including new organic products such as organic aquaculture products, seaweed and yeast. New provisions on the processing of organic wine are also anticipated as future amendments. While the new legislation will not include food preparation in restaurants and by mass caterers, it does allow EU Member States to regulate these sectors, pending a review in 2011.

Good for nature, good for you. www.organic-farming.europa.eu

European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development

The first EU Regulation on organic farming was adopted in 1991 and the years that followed saw impressive growth in the production and consumption of organic products across many Members States. The first Regulation was frequently amended in the face of such a fast growing sector. One important benchmark was in 1999, when supplementary rules on animal husbandry were adopted. The new Regulation was developed in response to the conclusions of the Council the European Agriculture Ministers of October 2004 on the European Action Plan for Organic Food and Farming, which provided an overall strategic vision on the contribution of organic farming to the Common Agricultural Policy.

Good for nature, good for you. www.organic-farming.europa.eu