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EU Regulation on Organic Production

Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 of 24 June 1991 on organic production was drawn up in 1991, and with this regulation considerable protection for both consumers and producers has been achieved.

It was recently replaced by Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007, which came into force on January 1, 2009. On September 18, 2008 the implementing rules were published as Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008.

The EU regulation on organic farming has been implemented in all countries of the European Union since 1992. Also in countries outside the European Union, organic products are either legally protected, or the development of organic regulations is in progress. Several EU countries have developed their own national regulations as well as national logos for organic products; in some cases this occurred long before Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 came into force. As the European Union is both an important importer and exporter of organic products its influence if felt strongly also outside the European Union

The regulation aims at protecting consumer interests and preventing unfair competition by defining and safeguarding labeling with references to organic agriculture. It has been implemented in all countries of the European Union since 1993.

In 2010 labelling with the EU logo shall become mandatory for pre-packaged products produced in the EU, and also imported products can be labeled with the logo. The current logo will be replaced by a new design – to be decided upon by consumer vote on the internet.

As with the old regulation, the new regulation is expected to become a very dynamic regulation which is continually amended and developed further in close cooperation with the EU member states and the organic stakeholders.