The European Commission has published new proposals for a new Regulation on organic production and the labelling of organic products.

It says consumer and producer concerns are at the heart of this new proposal, which seeks to address shortcomings of the current system. The commission also said: the EU organic market has quadrupled in size over the last 10 years and rules need to be updated and adjusted so that the sector can further develop and respond to future challenges.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Dacian Cioloş, said today: “The future of the organic sector in the EU depends on the quality and integrity of the products sold under the European organic logo. The Commission is looking for more and better organic farming in the EU by consolidating consumer confidence in organic products and removing obstacles to the development of organic agriculture. This package is good for consumers and good for farmers. Consumers will have better guarantees on organic food made and sold in the EU and farmers, producers and retailers will have access to a larger market, both within and outside the EU”. ”

The proposal focuses on three main objectives: maintaining consumer confidence, maintaining producer confidence and making it easier for farmers to switch to organics. The aim is that organic farming remains close to its principles and objectives, so that public demands in terms of environment and quality are met. The Commission proposes in particular:

to strengthen and harmonize rules, both in the European Union and for imported products, by removing many of the current exceptions in terms of production and controls;
to reinforce controls by making them risk-based;
to make it easier for small farmers to join organic farming by introducing the possibility for them to sign up to a group certification system;
to better address the international dimension of trade in organic products with the addition of new provisions on exports; and finally
to simplify the legislation to reduce administrative costs for farmers and improve transparency.

To help organic farmers, producers and retailers adjust to the proposed policy changes and meet future challenges, the Commission has also approved an Action Plan on the future of Organic Production in Europe. The Plan foresees to better inform farmers on rural development and EU farm policy initiatives encouraging organic farming, to strengthen links between EU research and innovation projects and organic production and to encourage the use of organic food, e.g. in schools.

For Background to the new proposals click below: