New organic legislation will enter into force on 1 January 2022, following the postponement of its implementation for a year. The rules will reflect the changing nature of this rapidly growing sector. The new regulation is designed to ensure fair competition for farmers whilst preventing fraud and maintaining consumer trust through the following:
- production rules will be simplified through the phasing out of a number of exceptions and opt outs;
- the control system will be strengthened thanks to tighter precautionary measures and robust checks along the entire supply chain;
- producers in third countries will have to comply with the same set of rules as those producing in the EU;
- organic rules will cover a wider list of products (e.g. salt, cork, beeswax, maté, vine leaves, palm hearts) and will have additional production rules (e.g. deer, rabbits and poultry);
- certification will be easier for small farmers thanks to a new system of group certification;
- there will be a more uniform approach to reducing the risk of accidental contamination from pesticides;
- exemptions for production in demarcated beds in greenhouses will be phased out.
Action plan for organic production in the EU
In March 2021, the Commission launched an organic action plan for the European Union. The action plan sets out to achieve the European Green Deal target of 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.
The plan is comprised of 23 actions divided across three axes:
- Axis 1: stimulate demand and ensure consumer trust
- Axis 2: stimulate conversion and reinforce the entire value chain
- Axis 3: organics leading by example: improve the contribution of organic farming to environmental sustainability
Organic action plan
The organic action plan sets out to develop organic farming across the EU by enhancing production, boosting demand, and improving sustainability.
The plan in detail ——> HERE
