The new EU regulation for organic production and labelling has been approved by the EU consilium. In fact, the changes have been in the pipeline since the Commission proposal at the end of 1995.
The Regulation will enter into force in January 2009, giving member states time to adapt their own legislation accordingly.
The new regulation relates to organic livestock, aquaculture, plant and feed production and the production of organic foods, but they also form a basis for add-on rules relating to organic wine, seaweed and yeasts.
It bans the use of GMOs, yet allows 0.9 percent of accidental GMO admixing. If no organic produce is available, food additives produced with GMOs may be used in organic foods. This decision has been criticised by organic associations, consumer and environmental organisations lobbying for the much lower threshold of 0.1 percent.
The new rules also provide for a complete set of objectives, principles and basic rules for organic production, and also include a permanent import regime and more consistent control system.
The ministers of agriculture also set labelling rules. The EU logo has been made compulsory for organic foods, and may be combined with national or regional logos. To qualify for the EU label, at least 95 percent of the ingredients must be organic. Under the new regulation, even conventional products may state the use of organic ingredients in the list of ingredients.

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