Brussels – “My objective is to provide this key sector with a stable, consistent and predictable regulatory framework.” With these words, the rapporteur Camilla Laureti (S&D) commented on the provisional agreement reached today (20 October) between MEPs and the Irish Presidency of the Council of the EU to amend the basic regulations on the production and labelling of organic products.
Laureti stressed the need to avoid constant revisions: the framework, she explains, “should simplify existing requirements, avoiding repeated revisions of the legislation after a limited period of application.” The stability of the rules, she adds, “is essential to preserving the high standards that underpin the sector’s quality, competitiveness and reputation, both within the European Union and on the global stage.” At the same time, “the sector must continue to ensure a robust level of consumer protection.” The aim, the rapporteur concludes, is “to strike the right balance between legal certainty for businesses, the sector’s long-term credibility and the legitimate expectations of European citizens.”
The text aims to maintain confidence in the European organic logo and to ensure fair competition between products that fully comply with EU rules and those that meet equivalent standards. For goods imported from third countries, the logo may appear on the label, packaging or in advertising only if they meet equivalent standards and additional production and control requirements. This will enable consumers to make more informed choices, and European and non-European producers will compete on a level playing field.
There are also new developments for small businesses that sell loose organic produce directly to consumers; these may be exempt from certification within specific limits. Negotiators have raised the annual turnover threshold from 20,000 to 40,000 euros and the sales volume threshold from 5,000 to 10,000 kilograms, to allow more small-scale producers to remain exempt from these requirements.
Regarding cross-contamination between organic and conventional crops and the differing national interpretations, the Commission will publish information on best practices for prevention from 31 December 2031.
Parliament and the Council must now formally approve the agreement. Once adopted, the regulation will enter into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
