Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EC) No 834/2007

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 - adopted by the European Union in May 2018 - which establishes the principles of organic production and lays down the rules concerning organic production, related certification and the use of indications referring to organic production in labelling and advertising, as well as rules on controls additional to those laid down in Regulation (EU) 2017/625.

Further information:

This Regulation broadens the scope of Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on the production and labelling of organic products, to cover products closely linked to agriculture and farming. It reviews the livestock organic production rules taking into account the experience gained and introduces production requirements for new species. It repeals the existing Regulation as of 31 December 2020, and starts applying from 1 January 2021.

The proposal for this Regulation was adopted by the European Commission on 24 March 2014, aimed at overcoming regulatory obstacles to the development of the sector and increasing consumer confidence in the EU organic logo. A Communication setting out an action plan to support growth in the sector was also published. The Council of the European Union adopted its general approach on the draft law on 16 June 2015. The European Parliament's relevant committee adopted its negotiating position on 13 October. An informal agreement between the co-legislators on a compromise text was reached on on 28 June 2017. This was formally endorsed by the Parliament on 18 April 2018 and by the Council on 22 May.

• Primary Source

Commentary and Analysis

National Assembly for Wales Research Service: EU Policy Update, June 2014: Organic Production and Labelling of Organic Products http://www.assemblywales.org/Research%20Documents/14-047%20Organic%20Labelling/14-047.pdf

National Assembly for Wales Research Service: Blog, 03/06/2014: EU proposals for the regulation of the organic farming industry https://seneddresearch.blog/2014/06/03/eu-proposals-for-the-regulation-of-the-organic-farming-industry/

EPRS: Briefing, July 2014: Initial Appraisal of the Commission's Impact Assessment http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=IPOL-JOIN_NT(2014)528799

National Assembly for Wales Research Service: Blog, 05/12/2014: The European regulation on organic production and labelling: serious concerns expressed by Welsh stakeholders https://seneddresearch.blog/2014/12/05/the-european-regulation-on-organic-production-and-labelling-serious-concerns-expressed-by-welsh-stakeholders/

National Assembly for Wales Research Service: Blog, 12/06/2015: EU organic farming proposals: does the European Parliament’s Draft Report address Welsh concerns? https://seneddresearch.blog/2015/06/12/eu-organic-farming-proposals-does-the-european-parliaments-draft-report-address-welsh-concerns/

Politico, 06/06/2017: The German Green who fights to keep pesticides in your organic food https://www.politico.eu/article/the-champion-of-organic-pesticides-2/

EurActiv, 16/11/2017: Organic farming in the EU needs passion, clear rules and controls https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/opinion/organic-farming-in-the-eu-needs-passion-clear-rules-and-controls/

EurActiv, 22/12/2017: New organic rules and animal welfare: Meeting social expectations or not? https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/opinion/new-organic-rules-and-animal-welfare-meeting-social-expectations-or-not/

EPRS: Briefing, March 2018: Organic farming legislation - Revision of EU Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_BRI(2018)614743

EPRS: At a Glance, April 2018: Organic production and labelling of organic products http://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/en/document.html?reference=EPRS_ATA(2018)620210

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News

EurActiv, 07/08/2013: Commission looks at possible revamp of organic farming legislation https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/commission-looks-at-possible-revamp-of-organic-farming-legislation/

Deutsche Welle, 25/03/2014: EU to impose stricter rules on organic products https://p.dw.com/p/1BVgj

EurActiv, 02/04/2014: EU reforms organic farming https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/eu-reforms-organic-farming/

EurActiv, 12/12/2014: Organic sector disappointed by Commission proposal https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/organic-sector-disappointed-by-commission-proposal/

EurActiv, 13/01/2015: New EU regulation could curb organic farming https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/new-eu-regulation-could-curb-organic-farming/

EurActiv, 17/07/2015: Amid growing demand, German organic farming suffers first decline https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/amid-growing-demand-german-organic-farming-suffers-first-decline/

EurActiv, 07/10/2015: Commission’s proposal for stricter thresholds in organic farming opposed https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/commission-s-proposal-for-stricter-thresholds-in-organic-farming-opposed/

EurActiv, 21/10/2015: Commission: Organic farming ‘not enough’ to address food security https://www.euractiv.com/section/science-policymaking/news/commission-organic-farming-not-enough-to-address-food-security/

EurActiv, 11/02/2016: GMOs and pesticides could be tolerated in organic food under new EU rules https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/gmos-and-pesticides-could-be-tolerated-in-organic-food-under-new-eu-rules/

EUObserver, 08/05/2017: Deadlock on organic farming rules 'breaking records' https://euobserver.com/economic/137806

EUObserver, 30/05/2017: Malta unable to solve EU organic conundrum https://euobserver.com/economic/138057

EurActiv, 07/06/2017: German MEP: Deadlock on organic farming reform ‘odd’ https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/interview/german-mep-deadlock-on-organic-farming-reform-odd/

EurActiv, 20/11/2017: Member states approve new organic rules ahead of Parliament vote https://www.euractiv.com/section/agriculture-food/news/member-states-approve-new-organic-rules-ahead-of-parliament-vote/

Independent.ie, 20/11/2017: New rules will allow farms produce both conventional and organic food https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/agri-business/eu/new-rules-will-allow-farms-produce-both-conventional-and-organic-food-36335521.html

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Official

European Parliament: Legislative Observatory: Procedure File for Proposal on organic production and labelling of organic products https://oeil.secure.europarl.europa.eu/oeil/popups/ficheprocedure.do?lang=en&reference=2014/0100(OLP)

EUR-Lex: COM(2014)180: Proposal for a Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/HIS/?uri=COM:2014:180:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2014)65: Impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2014:65:FIN

EUR-Lex: SWD(2014)66: Executive summary of the impact assessment http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=SWD:2014:66:FIN

EP: Legislative Train: Organic production and Labelling of organic products http://www.europarl.europa.eu/legislative-train/theme-deeper-and-fairer-internal-market-with-a-strengthened-industrial-base-products/file-organic-production-and-labelling-of-organic-products

European Commission: Press Release, 25/03/2014: Organics: Commission proposal for more and better http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-14-312_en.htm

European Commission: MEMO, 25/03/2014: FAQ: Commission proposals for new rules for organic farming http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-215_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 13/10/2015: Organic food: boosting EU production and enhancing consumer trust http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20151013IPR97385/

European Parliament: Press Release, 28/06/2017: Organic food: new rules for EU label agreed http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20170628IPR78527/

European Commission: Commission welcomes agreement on new rules for organic production, 28 June 2017 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-1827_en.htm

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 28/06/2017: Green light to new European rules on organic farming https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/06/28/rules-organic-farming/

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 20/11/2017: Organic farming: new European rules confirmed https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2017/11/20/organic-farming-new-european-rules-confirmed/

European Commission: Fact Sheet, 20/11/2017: The new organic Regulation http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-17-4686_en.htm

European Commission: New rules for organic farming: Statement by Commissioner Phil Hogan, 20 November 2017 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_STATEMENT-17-4727_en.htm

European Parliament: Press Release, 19/04/2018: Organic food: MEPs tighten EU rules to match consumer expectations http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20180411IPR01523/

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