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Modification of rules on organic trade and simplification

Agriculture and rural development

This targeted revision of the rules on the EU organic logo aims at addressing a Court of Justice’s ruling, whereby all processed products that are imported into the EU must comply in full with EU organic standards, if they were to bear the EU organic logo. Moreover, it will postpone the expiry of equivalence recognitions currently set at 31/12/2026 to avoid disruptions in organic trade flows. It will also look into simplifying the organic legislation in a targeted manner for certain rules on organic production.

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Public consultation

ID: 15273

Lobbying Activity

43 responses

EuroCommerce urges simpler organic rules to cut retail costs

EuroCommerce, 18 Nov 2025

EuroCommerce requests restoring the EU logo for imports and allowing labels in any official language. They propose exempting certain storage sites from certification and indexing exemption thresholds to reflect inflation.
This would lower compliance costs and reduce barriers to trade for retailers.

European Farmers Urge Flexible Rules for Organic Livestock Production

European farmers, 17 Nov 2025

They request extending the 5% non-organic protein feed derogation beyond 2026. They also propose removing medicine withdrawal rules and reducing outdoor space requirements.
This would reduce their production costs and solve technical feed sourcing challenges.
Consumer groups lose the assurance of strict natural standards if exemptions are expanded.

Finnish farmers urge simpler organic rules for Nordic conditions

Maa- ja metsätaloustuottajain Keskusliitto – Central Union of Agricultural Producers and Forest Owners, 18 Nov 2025

MTK requests removing the mandatory 48-hour medicine withdrawal period and extending exemptions for conventional protein feed. They also call for flexible greenhouse rules to protect Finnish potted herb production.
Simplification would lower operational costs and help Nordic farmers compete in the organic market.

German Farmers Demand Realistic Rules for Organic Livestock Expansion

Deutscher Bauernverband, 14 Nov 2025

The association requests realistic livestock rules to bridge the gap between land and farming. They seek flexibility for grazing, outdoor access, and essential feed additives for animal welfare.
Proposed revisions would provide investment security and reduce costs for organic livestock producers.
Proponents of strict organic standards lose influence as practical flexibility replaces rigid interpretations.

IFOAM Organics Europe urges targeted fix for organic trade rules

International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements EU Regional Group, 18 Nov 2025

IFOAM requests amendments to allow organic logos on equivalent imports. They also propose a ten-year extension for existing trade agreements.
These changes would prevent trade disruptions and reduce certification costs for organic farmers.
EU processors and consumers lose access to vital organic imports like coffee.

Euroseeds Urges Clear Rules to Boost Organic Seed Market Competitiveness

Euroseeds, 18 Nov 2025

Euroseeds requests ending derogations for conventional seeds by 2036 to ensure a level playing field. They advocate for clear boundaries between plant material types to provide legal clarity for breeders. They propose a European router database to improve organic seed availability across Member States.
Consistent rules would provide seed companies with market certainty and better rewards for organic investments.
Farmers currently relying on cheaper conventional untreated seeds would face higher costs once derogations expire.

European wine industry urges smoother trade rules for organic exports

Comité Européen des Entreprises Vins, 18 Nov 2025

The association requests extending the 2026 trade deadline and including wine in all equivalence agreements. They also advocate for allowing innovative dealcoholization and tartaric stabilization techniques in organic production.
Simplifying these rules would reduce administrative costs and improve access to global markets.

EU poultry industry seeks permanent flexibility in organic rules

Association de l'Aviculture, de l'Industrie et du Commerce de Volailles dans les Pays de l'Union Europeenne asbl, 17 Nov 2025

The associations request making the use of non-organic chicks and five percent non-organic feed permanent. They also propose removing mandatory outdoor access for breeder flocks to ensure biosecurity.
This would reduce production costs and provide long-term investment security for farmers.

AnimalhealthEurope urges simplified organic rules to improve animal welfare

AnimalhealthEurope, 18 Nov 2025

The organization requests exempting vaccines from mandatory 48-hour waiting periods. They also want easier access to pain relief and support for vaccination alternatives to castration.
This would increase the commercial viability and use of veterinary products in organic farming.

Feed industry urges simpler EU organic labeling and production rules

Fédération Européenne des Fabricants d'Aliments Composés, 18 Nov 2025

FEFAC proposes allowing the term 'organic feed' for products containing limited non-organic ingredients. They suggest replacing frequent derogation assessments with a streamlined authorization procedure for proteins.
This would reduce the heavy administrative burden involved in constant data collection and reporting.
Consumers lose clarity when the organic label includes feed containing non-organic protein sources.

Anglo American urges regulatory alignment for natural organic fertilisers

Anglo American, 18 Nov 2025

The company calls for better alignment between organic standards and fertiliser regulations. They propose a new category for natural mineral fertilisers that use only mechanical processing.
The proposal would improve market access and competitiveness for their polyhalite product.
Producers of chemically processed potassium sources may lose their current market advantage.

La Coopération Agricole Urges Flexible Organic Production Rules

La Coopération Agricole, 18 Nov 2025

The organization wants to remove the 48-hour wait period for veterinary treatments. They also suggest allowing small amounts of non-organic proteins in livestock feed. Additionally, they propose allowing cattle to be finished indoors for short periods.
These changes would protect farmer income and prevent the waste of organic products.

Essential oil federation demands reform of organic residue rules

European Federation of Essential Oils, 17 Nov 2025

The federation requests a scientifically sound definition of 'presence' that aligns with existing pesticide limits. They propose using processing factors to account for the natural concentration of residues in essential oils. Additionally, they call for a reform of the reporting system to ensure data transparency.
A revised framework would reduce bureaucratic burdens and prevent costly storage fees during investigations.
Farmers and value chain operators suffer when goods are blocked during lengthy investigations.

German organic industry warns of massive losses from new regulations

Bund Ökologische Lebensmittelwirtschaft e.V., 18 Nov 2025

BÖLW requests extending trade agreement deadlines to prevent massive supply chain disruptions. They also propose replacing restrictive substance lists with more flexible criteria for cleaning and disinfection.
These changes would protect domestic production and save companies billions in compliance costs.
Smallholder farmers in developing nations face exclusion from the EU market due to turnover caps.

German Food Retailers urge organic rule simplification and logo flexibility

Bundesverband des Deutschen Lebensmittelhandels e.V., 18 Nov 2025

The association suggests raising the certification exemption limit for loose organic produce. They call for extending trade transition periods by at least ten years. They also want to keep using the EU logo on equivalent imports.
This would decrease administrative burdens and prevent significant costs for the retail sector.
Animal welfare groups might view the removal of housing limits as a setback.

Consultation response

European Rural Poultry Association, 18 Nov 2025

ERPA is the European association representing rural poultry producers in Europe, including the sectors and producers of organic eggs and poultry for meat. ERPA warmly thanks the European Commission and Commissioner Hansen for proposing to reopen the regulation on organic farming for targeted…

German salt industry demands removal of salt from organic rules

Verband der Kali- und Salzindustrie e.V., 14 Nov 2025

VKS recommends that salt be completely removed from the list of certified organic products. They argue salt is an inorganic mineral, meaning organic principles are not reasonably applicable to its extraction.
This would ensure legal certainty for operators and prevent discrimination against European production methods.
Organic food processors face disrupted supply chains and consumers are misled by the label.

British Agriculture Bureau seeks simplified EU organic production rules

British Agriculture Bureau, 18 Nov 2025

The group calls for permanent derogations on non-organic feed and exemptions from outdoor access for young poultry. They also want the removal of the total usable surface area cap for poultry houses.
This would reduce production costs and prevent nutritional deficiencies in organic livestock.
Small-scale producers may lose market protection if the cap on enterprise size is removed.

Consultation response

Federation of European Aquaculture Producers, 18 Nov 2025

FEAP welcomes the initiative to introduce targeted amendments to Regulation 2018/848. Despite a supposedly supportive regulatory framework, the fish farming organic sector continues to face significant barriers. As a result, many fish farmers who have bet on organic production have struggled to…

Consultation response

Assoziation ökologischer Lebensmittelherstellerinnen und -hersteller e.V., 18 Nov 2025

AöL e.V. is advocating for changes in the following areas, which are prioritized in two categories - those that are of importance to all organic processing companies, and those that are relevant to specific processing sectors. Importance to all organic processing companies: 1. Amend Article 24 (1)…

Consultation response

ECOCERT SA, 17 Nov 2025

In the context of the reopening of EU Regulation 2018/848, ECOCERT supports a limited revision of the basic act and targeted amendments in secondary legislation in a second step. After four years of application in Europe and one in third countries, it appears that the implementation of certain…

Consultation response

Plant-Based Foods Europe, 18 Nov 2025

Plant-Based Foods Europe welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the targeted amendments to the EU Organic Production rules. Through the Vision for Agriculture and Food, the Commission acknowledges the organic sector as a cornerstone of a sustainable, resilient and competitive European food…

Biostimulant industry demands alignment of organic rules with fertiliser standards

European Biostimulants Industry Council, 18 Nov 2025

EBIC urges aligning organic rules with fertiliser laws to include missing material categories. They advocate for removing unworkable restrictions on animal by-products and hydrolysed proteins.
This would lower compliance costs and speed up approvals for new biostimulants.
Consumers seeking strict avoidance of factory-farmed inputs may face reduced transparency.

Consultation response

Fairtrade Deutschland e.V., 18 Nov 2025

Fairtrade Deutschland welcomes the Commissions initiative to simplify the EU Organic Regulation and related acts to ease implementation for organic producers. The current regulation creates barriers to trade without improving the content or credibility of the EU organic certification, through…

Consultation response

Organic Processing and Trade Association Europe e.V., 18 Nov 2025

OPTA Europe is the membership organization representing the interest of European Organic Processing and Trade companies. Its members account for a large share of total EU trade and processing of organic products and play an essential role in an efficient supply chain. We are grateful for the…

Potato trade association urges EU to reduce organic burdens

European Potato Trade Association, 18 Nov 2025

Europatat requests flexible derogations for non-treated seeds to help growers manage production risks. They also call for reducing administrative burdens and stimulating demand through awareness-raising.
The changes would lower production costs and reduce financial risks for growers.
Producers of certified organic seeds lose market share if conventional alternatives are allowed.

Consultation response

Unión de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos, 18 Nov 2025

Convocatoria de Datos de la Comisión Europea Producción ecológica: simplificación y actualizaciones específicas Comentarios de Unión de Uniones de Agricultores y Ganaderos Registro de Transparencia 643875852019-50 Unión de Uniones valora el esfuerzo de la Comisión Europea por simplificar la…

Consultation response

Union Nationale des Industries de la Fertilisation, 18 Nov 2025

LUnion des Industries de la Fertilisation (UNIFA) remercie la Commission d'avoir mis en place cette consultation sur la simplification de la réglementation Agriculture Biologique. Nous proposons 4 mesures : 1. Une version consolidée et accessible des actes secondaires Afin dassurer une…

Consultation response

European Salt Producers' Association, 18 Nov 2025

EUsalt strongly supports the Commission's stated objective to simplify the regulatory ‎framework, remove unnecessary complexity, and reduce the regulatory burden for the ‎agri-food value chain. In this spirit, EUsalt believes that deleting salt from Annex I is a targeted, simplifying measure that…

Consultation response

BioForum, 17 Nov 2025

BioForum welcomes the Commissions initiative to safeguard international trade relations by providing clarity about organic goods imported under the equivalence scheme and by postponing the deadline to conclude on new trade agreements. We also appreciate the Commissions intention to reduce…

Consultation response

BIO AUSTRIA, 18 Nov 2025

The European organic regulation forms a key foundation for the success story of organic farming in Europe. Over time, however, the complexity and administrative workload for organic farmers have increased considerably, becoming a large burden for many family farms. The fact that many details are…

ECOFI urges simpler EU rules for organic fertilizers

European Consortium of the Organic-based Fertilizer Industry, 18 Nov 2025

ECOFI calls for a "streamlined, transparent, and science-based process" to update authorized fertilizer lists. They seek the removal of "unworkable" restrictions on "factory farming" materials to ensure consistency.
Streamlined rules would reduce compliance costs and administrative burdens for fertilizer manufacturers.
Certification bodies would lose the power to apply their own divergent national interpretations.

Consultation response

Syndicat National des Labels Avicoles de France, 18 Nov 2025

Le SYNALAF, organisation collective représentant les filières avicoles biologiques en France, remercie la Commission européenne douvrir la discussion pour proposer des modifications ciblées à la réglementation européenne relative à lagriculture biologique. La filière œufs biologique a en effet en…

Consultation response

European Organic Certifiers Council, 18 Nov 2025

The European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC) gathering 74 Control Bodies and Control Authorities welcomes the European Commissions consultation in the frame of simplification of the regulatory framework for organic production. Please find enclosed the four main points for EOCC. EOCC is thankful…

Consultation response

Clúster Bananero del Ecuador, 18 Nov 2025

See attached file.

Consultation response

Fédération Nationale d'Agriculture Biologique, 6 Nov 2025

La FNAB exprime que la stabilité du cadre réglementaire constitue la condition essentielle de la confiance des consommateurs et de la viabilité du marché des produits biologiques en Europe. Depuis vingt ans, ce marché na cessé de croître, pour représenter 50 milliards deuros aujourd'hui. En mettant…

Consultation response

COMITE DE LIAISON ENTREPRENEURIAT-AGRICULTURE-DEVELOPPEMENT, 18 Nov 2025

Please see attached file

Consultation response

, 18 Nov 2025

Le secteur wallon représenté par le GT législation animé par la Socopro soutient louverture de lacte de base pour résoudre laffaire Herbaria, reporter léchéance des échanges de produits biologiques avec 11 pays non membres équivalents et simplifier certaines formulations ou charges administratives.…

Consultation response

SEA SALT EUROPE, 18 Nov 2025

SEASALT Europe appreciates the opportunity to contribute to this Call for Evidence regarding the targeted amendment of the Organic Production Regulation (EU) 2018/848. We highlight that a significant share of our members holds certification under Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Since the inclusion of…

Consultation response

, 17 Nov 2025

LUnion des professionnels des plantes à parfum, aromatiques et médicinales (PPAM de France) se réjouit de l'opportunité de commenter l'application de l'article 29 du règlement (UE) 2018/848 concernant la présence de produits et de substances non autorisés dans les produits biologiques. PPAM DE…

Consultation response

The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades Ltd, 17 Nov 2025

Please see attached feedback from IFEAT - The International Federation of Essential Oils and Aroma Trades

Consultation response

O.D.N.V., 17 Nov 2025

ODNV est une coopérative française regroupant des centres demballage dœufs qui conditionnent et emballent des œufs de poules nées et élevées en France dont des œufs issus de lagriculture biologique collectés auprès de près de 200 éleveurs. La dernière réglementation européenne, mise en application…

Consultation response

Der Backzutatenverband e.V., 17 Nov 2025

Revision BIO Verordnung Stellungnahme des Backzutatenverbands e. V.: Der Backzutatenverband e.V. (BZV) vertritt 42 Mitgliedsunternehmen der Zulieferindustrie der backenden Gewerbe in Deutschland und in Österreich. Damit repräsentieren wir ei-nen Großteil aller Unternehmen unserer Branche. Unsere…