The European Commission initially adopted Council Regulation No. 2092/91 on organic farming and the corresponding labelling of agricultural products and foods to officially recognize the notion of organic farming in certain member states. The regulation was adopted to not only to define the concept of organic farming and processing, but also to combat widespread fraud. As organic agriculture has advanced significatnly since the initial regulation was approved in 1991 the EC adopted a new regulation in the summer of 2007: EU Regulation No. 834/2007 for organic agriculture. The new regulation superceeds the old regulation and governs organic agriculture for European Union Member states set out a complete set of objectives, principles and basic rules for organic production, and include a new permanent import regime and a more consistent control regime. Conformance to the new regulation includes the mandatory use of the EU organic logo which can be accompanied by national or private logos. The location of product production must be indicated to inform consumers. Food will only be able to carry an organic logo if at least 95 percent of the ingredients are organic and on-organic products will be entitled to indicate organic ingredients on the ingredients list only. The new regulation maintains a prohibition on the use of genetically modified organisms. It will now be made explicit that the general limit of 0.9 percent for the accidental presence of authorised GMOs will also apply to organic products.
The new regulation contains no changes to the list of authorised substances for organic farming. Due to the changing dynamics of organic agriculture the rules establish a framework for adding rules on organic aquaculture, wine, seaweed and yeasts. The following fact sheet provides an over view organic farming within the EC :
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| Sub-Category |
Regional/National
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| Standard for |
All stages of production, preparation and distribution of organic products and their control in addition to the use of indications referring to organic production in labelling and advertising.
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| Focus |
Production and processing of agricultural products that provide assurance of adherence to organic standards.
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| Structure |
The EU organic standard consists of 42 articles as outlined in the full standard attached below. The articles oultine the system governing the production of organic products, organic marketing and labelling, and the use of inputs in organic systems. There are a general set of standards for agricultural products, with separate standards for animal husbandry, beekeeping, aquaculture, processing and handling, textiles, and forest management.
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| Conformity Requirements |
Conformance to the EU Regulation No. 834/2007 requires a management system that addresses all aspects of organic production, processing, labelling, and marketing within the framework of a system that does not allow for commingling or contamination of organic products with non approved substances. For example, article four outlines the general principles for an organic production system which include the following:
- Appropriate design and management of biological processes based on ecological systems using natural resources which are internal to the system
- Restriction of the use of external inputs
- Strict limitation of the use of chemically synthesised inputs to exceptional cases
- Adaptation, where necessary, and within the framework of this Regulation, of the rules of organic production taking account of sanitary status, regional differences in climate and local conditions, stages of development and specific husbandry practices
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| Auditing System |
Each member state is required to set up a system of controls and designate one or more competent authorities responsible for conformance to the EU Regulation No. 834/2007. The compentent authority of each member state accredits certifiying bodies to conduct audits to the EU Regulation No. 834/2007.
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| Geographic Focus |
European Union
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| Website |
http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/organic/index_en.htm
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