The European Parliament and EU Council have reached provisional agreement to update rules for the production, labelling, certification and trade of organic products, as well as rules on trade with non-EU countries.
The ‘targeted’ revision, aimed at making existing rules clearer and easier to apply, will reduce administrative burdens for farmers and businesses, particularly smaller operators, and provide greater legal certainty for imports of organic products. It will also help ensure continuity in international trade, while preserving the integrity of the EU organic label.
The agreement introduces targeted changes to the EU’s existing framework for organic products. Additionally, the regulation will provide clarity to operators on the rules for importing organic products from countries with standards recognised as equivalent to those in the EU. This will give operators greater predictability while helping consumers make informed choices and ensuring fair competition between EU and non-EU producers.
The provisionally agreed rules introduce simplification measures, in line with the Council’s negotiating mandate, to reduce administrative burdens, particularly for small operators.
Under current rules, small operators selling unpackaged organic products, such as loose fruit and vegetables, directly to consumers are exempt from certification requirements. Under the revised rules, the annual turnover threshold for this exemption will increase from €20 000 to €40 000 per year, calculated as the annual average over the previous five years. The annual sales volume threshold will also rise from 5 000 kg to 10 000 kg.
The co-legislators also agreed to extend the exemption, under certain conditions, to small online retailers selling pre-packed organic products.
The agreement clarifies that products imported from non-EU countries whose organic production rules are recognised as equivalent to EU standards can continue to be marketed using terms such as ‘organic’. These products may use the organic logo of their country of origin.
They would also be able to use the EU organic logo however only if they comply with additional production and monitoring requirements beyond those covered by equivalence, for instance relating to living soil, animal welfare and processing methods.
Organic rules applied by 11 non-EU countries, including Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and the United States are currently recognised as equivalent to EU standards. This recognition is due to expire on 31 December 2026, and today’s agreement extends it until 31 December 2036. This will provide long-term predictability for operators and help avoid disruption to international trade, which is important for the EU organic sector.
The Council and Parliament agreed to remove the Commission’s proposal to allow the EU organic label to be used on products containing less than 5% of ingredients from non-EU countries that do not meet additional criteria.
The agreement provides temporary flexibility for the use of non-organic protein feed for poultry and pigs, as well as for aquaculture juveniles. These derogations will be phased out gradually.
Smooth transition to the new rules
To ensure the smooth implementation of the revised framework and avoid potential market disruptions, products already labelled under the existing rules may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted.
The agreement also provides for transitional arrangements to ensure continuity and legal certainty for imported organic products and international trade as the new rules take effect.
The provisional agreement must now be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. Following legal-linguistic revision, the regulation will be formally adopted by both institutions.
The aim is to complete its adoption before the end of 2026, when the current recognition arrangements for imported organic products are due to expire, providing operators with legal certainty and helping prevent any disruption to trade.
