EU Organic Regulation updates: FAQ on organic rules & second list of compliant control bodies

The Commission has updated its Frequently asked questions on organic rules with new topics. It now also clarifies questions on:

• Organic certification of various products like algal oil rich in DHA, additives and flavourings, prickly pear oil, cosmetics, plant oils for use in cosmetics, snails, cotton or wool textile fibre, mate and other products listed in Annex I. of Regulation 2018/848 (see chapter 1. Subject matter, scope, definitions);
• Proper labelling of export products and pet food (see chapter 2. Labelling and logo);
• Acceptable flock size for brother roosters (see chapter 4.3 Livestock); and
• Production rules applicable for organic salt (see chapter 4.9 Salt).

Second list of control bodies recognised for compliance published

The second list of control bodies and control authorities recognised in third countries for the purpose of compliance has been also published. It is available in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2140 of 6 August 2024 amending and correcting Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 as regards the recognition of certain control bodies in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as competent to carry out controls and issue organic certificates in third countries for the purpose of imports of organic products into the Union.

This legal act lists 15 new control organisations and makes some corrections to the first published list.

Rejection of last year’s rules on organic salt production by European Parliament

The Parliament’s almost one-year-old decision rejecting the Commission’s proposal on detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts has been published now in the Official Journal. It is called Objection to a delegated act: detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for food and feed – European Parliament resolution of 11 July 2023 on the Commission delegated regulation of 2 May 2023 amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards detailed production rules for organic sea salt and other organic salts for food and feed (C(2023)02781 – 2023/2676(DEA)).

We help you navigate the EU Organic Regulation 

Since March 2022, we are offering guidelines to help practitioners interpret the EU Organic Regulation. These guidelines help readers to navigate the regulation, its implementing and delegated acts and links to definitions, recitals, other EU legislation and more. We will update the guidelines in the last quarters of 2024.

Our members get early access to information 

IFOAM Organics Europe members have early access to information on the EU Organic Regulation through our Interest and Expert Groups and our member member extranet. They also have one free access to the EU Organic Regulation guidelines. For more information on the EU organic regulation and IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please visit our website. Do note that we prioritise our members’ requests. For access to our member extranet and information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].

First list of control bodies recognised for compliance published

The first list of control bodies (CBs) recognised for compliance regarding imports from third countries was published in the EU’s official journal.

The Commission is rapidly progressing with the other applications, and the second list is in the pipeline – its first draft is out for public consultation.

Below regulations are also under public consultation.

A draft delegated regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1698 as regards the certification of certain operators and groups of operators in third countries and the controls performed by control authorities and control bodies on their organic products aiming to set a derogation period till 15 October 2025 for the issuance of COIs and for the validity of OP certificates under equivalence to allow a smooth transition to compliance. As IFOAM Organics Europe, we welcome the transition period but ask for a full calendar year.

High-risk organic and in-conversion products – import checks and sampling (amendment): Delegated regulation amending Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1698 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/2306 as regards the import into the Union of high-risk organic and in-conversion products

We help you navigate the EU Organic Regulation

Since March 2022, we are offering guidelines to help practitioners interpret the EU Organic Regulation. These guidelines help readers to navigate the regulation, its implementing and delegated acts and links to definitions, recitals, other EU legislation and more. We will update the guidelines in the last quarters of 2024.

Our members get early access to information

IFOAM Organics Europe members have early access to information on the EU Organic Regulation through our Interest and Expert Groups and our member member extranet. They also have one free access to the EU Organic Regulation guidelines.

For more information on the EU organic regulationand IFOAM Organics Europe’s work on this issue, please visit our website. Do note that we prioritise our members’ requests. For access to our member extranet and information about what you can gain from being a member, read our membership page and contact [email protected].