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Regulatory text
The European legislation is also available online at the EUR-Lex website.
On June 28, 2007, the EU adopted the new Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products which will completely replace the current EU Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. It came into force in January 2009.
The new regulation consists of the three following parts:
On June 28, 2007, the EU adopted the new Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products which will completely replace the current EU Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91. It came into force in January 2009.
The new regulation consists of the three following parts:
- Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 - principles of organic farming and the legal framework
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 - implementing rules
- Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 - importing rules
Scope / What needs to be certified
The EU Regulation applies to unprocessed crop and animal products (incl. honey and aquaculture products), processed agricultural products intended for human consumption and to animal feed and yeast.
The main part of the regulation outlines the rules for labelling of organic produce (Section III, Chapter 1-3 of EU Regulation (EC) No 889/2008), the production standards (Section II and related Annexes I-III) and the necessary inspection measures (Section IV, Chapter 1-7 of EU Regulation (EC) No 889/2008). The regulation also defines two different possibilities for import of organic food produce originating from non-EU member countries.
The main part of the regulation outlines the rules for labelling of organic produce (Section III, Chapter 1-3 of EU Regulation (EC) No 889/2008), the production standards (Section II and related Annexes I-III) and the necessary inspection measures (Section IV, Chapter 1-7 of EU Regulation (EC) No 889/2008). The regulation also defines two different possibilities for import of organic food produce originating from non-EU member countries.
Labelling Requirements
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The rules for labelling of organic produce define clearly that products may only refer to organic production methods if they are produced in accordance with the production rules and certified according to the inspection rules as laid down in this Regulation.
All usual common terms for organic in the different member states are equally protected in their use (e.g. "biologisch" in German, "écologico" in Spanish, "biologique" in French).
Also included in the labelling rules are all requirements concerning the composition of a processed organic product. Briefly summarised, processed organic produce have to contain at least 95% organic ingredients to be labelled as organic produce (with various restrictions concerning all other ingredients or auxiliaries/additives). Products containing less than 95% organic ingredients may write any indication or reference to organic production on their label.
The EU organic seal (as shown on the right side) may be applied on all production which fulfil the regulation.
When the EU logo is used, the following compulsory indications on organic food labels must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible:
All usual common terms for organic in the different member states are equally protected in their use (e.g. "biologisch" in German, "écologico" in Spanish, "biologique" in French).
Also included in the labelling rules are all requirements concerning the composition of a processed organic product. Briefly summarised, processed organic produce have to contain at least 95% organic ingredients to be labelled as organic produce (with various restrictions concerning all other ingredients or auxiliaries/additives). Products containing less than 95% organic ingredients may write any indication or reference to organic production on their label.
The EU organic seal (as shown on the right side) may be applied on all production which fulfil the regulation.
When the EU logo is used, the following compulsory indications on organic food labels must be easily visible, clearly legible and indelible:
- the code number of the control authority or control body
- an indication of the place where the agricultural raw materials of which the product is composed have been farmed
- EU Agriculture (raw material has been farmed in the EU)
- Non-EU Agriculture (raw material farmed in third countries)
- EU/ Non-EU Agriculture (part of raw materials farmed in the EU and part of it farmed in a third country).
