Category: Organic
By: Sanna Heinze
European Commission plans to revise EU Organic Regulation
The EU regulation on organic farming can be seen as the backbone of the organic sector within the European Union. Aiming to ensure fair competition, a well-functioning internal market and the protection of consumer interests it has the potential to contribute substantially to the development of the organic sector.
But while the demand for organic products in Europe grew rapidly within the last years, neither internal supply, nor the regulatory framework for the organic sector were able to keep up with it. In order to adapt to these changing market conditions and to improve long-term growth prospects of organic farming the European Commission initiated a revision of the existing regulation two years ago.
In March of this year a draft regulation was presented, which focuses on the tightening of legal restrictions for organic production and strengthened controls along the entire supply chain. For example the draft contains a tighter set of thresholds for pesticides, genetically modified organisms, and other substances. Furthermore, the Commission plans that retailers who exclusively sell pre-packaged products will be included in control procedures in the future.
Livestock has to be fed with 100 percent organic feed and the use of synthetically manufactured amino acids will be forbidden. Conventional seed and young animals, however, can be used until 2021, while partial conversion of farms will no longer be possible. In order to help small farmers to enter the market, the Commission wants to allow group certification procedures. Import regulations shall be harmonised and exceptions will be removed.
Several sectoral stakeholders have criticized the draft regulation. Rather than conducting a complete and new revision of the current regulation they propose to further develop the existing Regulation (EC) 834/2007. Currently the new proposal is under negotiation in the European Parliament and the Council, as a legislative proposal for a new regulation must be decided in a co-decision process.
Detailed information on the topic
Press release of the Council of the European Union on the new regulation