Welcome to the IFOAM EU Group info page on the revision of the organic EC Regulation 2092/91
The European Commission revised the previous regulation for organic farming between 2005 and 2009. The publication of the Commission proposal for a “COUNCIL REGULATION on organic production and labeling of organic products” (December 21, 2005) set the start for a process that should take 3 years - and which to some extent is still ongoing.
With this webpage we intend to keep you informed about the latest developments in EU regulation for organic food and farming and about the IFOAM EU Group's activities in this area.
Draft proposal for organic wine withdrawn by the European Commission
Brussels, 16/06/2010 - The European
Commission withdraws its draft proposal for regulating organic wine
making at the EU level. A compromise between the member states and the
Commission could not be achieved. The IFOAM EU Group regrets the missed
chance to finalise the organic wine making rules. The European
Commission may come back to the organic wine making rules in future.
IFOAM EU Group urges the Commission to recognise that flavours are included in the scope of (EC) Regulation 834/2007
October 5, 2009 - The IFOAM EU Group today sent a letter to the Head of the organic unit, DG Agriculture, asking the Commission to affirm that flavours of organic agricultural origin are officially recognised as being in the scope of the organic regulations.
Implementing rules for aquaculture published in the Official Journal
August 6, 2009 - The final and official version of the implementing rules for organic aquaculture has been posted in the Official Journal. Download the document BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV
Organic Aquaculture first time regulated at EU level
June 30, 2009 –
After more than 1,5 years discussion the Standing Committee on Organic
Farming decided yesterday late afternoon on implementing rules on
organic aquaculture (1). The IFOAM EU Group (2) welcomes that Member
States found a compromise to define for the first time ever EU wide
rules for organic aquaculture but points out that further development
is needed.
IFOAM EU comments the Commission working document on the aquaculture implementing rules
June 25th, 2009 - The
IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to Mr J.F. Hulot, Head of the Organic
Farming Unit, DG AGRI and to members of thew Standing Committee on
Organic Farming with comments on the last draft of the organic
aquaculture implementing rules.
Commission working document on the aquaculture implementing rules
May 13th, 2009
- New version of the Commission's working document of the
aquaculture implementing rules is drafted. The draft has been discussed at the meeting of the Standing Committee on Organic Farming on May 14th, 2009.
IFOAM EU comments the Commission working document on the aquaculture implementing rules
May 12th, 2009 - The
IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to Mr J.F. Hulot, Head of the Organic
Farming Unit, DG AGRI and to members of thew Standing Committee on Organic Farming with comments on the last draft of the organic aquaculture implementing rules.
IFOAM EU comments on the new organic regulation for labelling of origin
May 8th, 2009 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to Mr J.F. Hulot, Head of the Organic Farming Unit, DG AGRI with comments on the requirements for labelling of origin in the new organic regulation.
Commission working document on the aquaculture implementing rules
April 30th, 2009 - Commission is drafting a new version of the working document of the aquaculture implementing rules. The draft to be discussed and voted on the meeting of the Standing Committee on Organic Farming on May 13-14th, 2009.
IFOAM EU comments on the draft implementing rules for aquaculture
March 30th, 2009 - The IFOAM EU Group today sent a letter to Mr J.F.Hulot, Head of Organic Farming Unit, DG AGRI with recommendations to the draft implementing rules for aquaculture.
Follow link to read more IFOAM EU Group posistions on the regulation and implementing rules:
Invitation to all wine producers to join in ORWINE survey!
In the upcoming months the EU-Commission will start discussions on the regulation of Organic Wine production.
Before the preparation of the final Recommendation to the EU Commission, the ORWINE project wants to listen to the opinions of the stakeholders in detail. One of the actions planned is this survey, which is widely proposed to all European producers of organic wines through their associations.
IFOAM EU position on the draft implementing rules for aquaculture
October 3rd, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group today published a third position paper on the draft implementing rules for aquaculture.
The position paper can be downloaded here:
Implementing rules NIROF
September 18th, 2008
- The implementing rules were published today in the EU Official Journal: Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control.
Official Journal You can choose language version from the country codes list on the top-right of the linked page.
IFOAM EU comments on the draft implementing rules for imports
August 29th, 2008 - IFOAM EU and IFOAM sent a joint letter to the Head of the organic unit in the Commission, commenting on the draft implementing rules for imports.
Launch of promotion campaign for organic food and farming
Juky 25th, 2008 - The European Commission launched the EU wide promotion campaign for organic food and farming in an event at the annual agricultural, forestry and agri-food Fair in Libramont, South Belgium.
See the Commission's press release
The new organic regulation : a milestone for organic production?
July 7th, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group reacted to the passed implementing rules with a press release.
To download the implementing please go to EU institutions' documents:
Final version of the implementing rules decided by the SCOF
July 2nd, 2008 - The final edition of the implementing rules were passed by the SCOF on July 2nd.
In the months to come the European Commission will further have to finalise the areas which were not tackled by the endorsed legislation: the implementing rules for the new areas such as wine and aquaculture, and the rules on imports.
The final edition of the rules can be downloaded below (pdf 1MB)
Commission presented a working document on the implementing rules on the organic aquaculture on the SCOF
June 30th, 2008 - Working document was used as a basis for the first round of discussions with government experts meeting in the Working Group of the Standing Committee on Organic Farming, Organic Aquaculture.
The IFOAM EU Group sends a position paper to the Commission on the organic seaweed implementing rules
June 20th, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a position paper to Richard Bates, to the Commission Directorate Generale for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, with the proposal on the organic seaweed implementing rules. The position was prepared by experts in seaweed production within frame of the IFOAM EU aquaculture experts' working group.
IFOAM EU comments on the implementing rules
May 19th, 2008 - The IFOAM EU group today sent a letter to the European Commission, commenting on the proposal of the implementing rules of April 22nd
The letter emphasised the potential confusion arising from the overlapping dates and requirements related to the use of logo and labelling.
Further the letter pointed to the unrealistic provisions set for inspection bodies to collect and report extensive data through control visits.
Read the letter here:
New version of the implementing rules
May 7th, 2008 - A new version of the implementing rules for organic farming has been released. The version was sent for internal translation in the Commission on the 23rd of April and will be voted on in the SCOF meeting on the 27th and 28th of May.
The IFOAM EU Group sends a position paper to the Commission on the organic aquaculture implementing rules
April 29th, 2008
- The IFOAM EU Group sent a position paper to Richard Bates, to the Commission Directorate Generale for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, with the proposal on the organic aquaculture implementing rules. The position was prepared by the IFOAM EU aquaculture experts' working group.
The IFOAM EU Group sends reaction to the Commission on the implementing rules ver. April 10, 2008
April 23rd, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Head of the Organic Unit in the Commission Directorate Generale for Agriculture, Jean-Francois Hulot, with comments on the proposal for the new implementing rules that was released on April 10th. The letter contains a list of positive changes since the last draft of the implementing rules, but also a list with points that needs to be clarified in the new version of the rules.
The IFOAM EU Group sends reaction to the Commission on the new implementing rules
The IFOAM EU group sent on April 14th a letter to the Head of the Organic Unit in the Commission Directorate Generale for Agriculture. The letter contained a demand for postponing the part of the regulation that demands the mandatory use of a common EC logo on all organic products from January 1st 2009. The letter can be downloaded below.
New version of the Implementing rules released by the Commission
April 10, 2008 - The Commission has released the second draft of the New Implementing Rules.
February 20, 2008 - The IFOAM EU Group commented on the draft edition of the Implementing Rules that were issued by the Commission in January this year. The comments were followed up by a letter to the Commission and a whole day-meeting with Unit F5 on organic farming where IFOAM EU presented the background and priority areas of the comments. Read more and download the full comments table here:
New Commission non-paper on the implementing rules
January 15, 2008 - New Commission non-paper on the Implementing Rules of the new organic regulation was issued to stakeholders on January 10th. The draft document is laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control. Please, download the document here:
Commission published import non paper and draft results of questionaire
November 2007 - The organic unit in DG Agriculture, European Commission submitted to member states and members of the advisory group on organic farming in November a non paper on imports and the draft results of its questionnaire.
You can find the detailed reactions of the groups if you go to the IFOAM EU Group and stakeholder link at the right.
IFOAM EU sends letter to the Commission on acids for salt bath treatment in cheese production
November 27 - IFOAM EU sent to the Head of Unit Organic Farming, Mr Jean-Francois Hulot, a letter concerning the acids for salt bath treatment in cheese production. The letter asks for the attention of the Commission officals to a serious problem in the extension of Annex VI for products of animal origin, which comes into force on 1st December. In the extension of Annex VI, no acids are specified as processing aids for salt bath treatment in cheese production.
For full text of the letter, please click here:
IFOAM EU comments to the Commissions's Analysis Table on the Implementing Rules
29th October, 2007 - The IFOAM EU Group sent to the European Commission its comments on the “Analysis table of the European Commission on the implementing rules” which are to be laid down under the new organic regulation. The comments are directly introduced into the table. Whenever appropriate the comments provide a link to the concerned IFOAM position paper. You can download the document here:
IFOAM EU handed in response on the revision questionnaire
22nd October, 2007 - The IFOAM EU Group submitted to the European Commission its response on the questionnaire on the implementing rules of the new organic regulation. The Commission launched a questionnaire to stakeholders and member states in the beginning of October to get input into the drafting process. It is unclear if a second consultation step, after the questionnaire, will be initiated. The current expectation is that the Commission will publish its legal proposal for the organic implementing rules in January 2008.
Response to the Consultation Questionnaire on the Future Detailed Applicatory Rules
21st September, 2007 - IFOAM EU Group sent to the relevant Commission officials its initial response to the Commission's Consultation Questionnaire on the Future Detailed Applicatory Rules, in which it comments on the questionnaire. The full text of the response you can find here:
IFOAM EU Position on Exceptional Production Rules
20th September, 2007 - IFOAM EU Group presented to the European Commission its position on the new flexibility rules (Article 22 of the new Council regulation no. 834/2007), which provide for the possibility of allowing exceptions to the production rules in certain limited circumstances. You can find the full text of the position here:
Commission non-paper on Implementing Rules
18th September, 2007 - The European Commission has provided to the stakeholders a non-paper on the new implementing rules, supported by a comparative analysis table. The table gives an outline of how the Commission foresees to transfer the annexes of the current organic regulation into the new implementing rules and what new areas has to be addressed. The document refers only to the Annexes of Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 and Regulation (EC) 1452/2003. You can find the document here:
New Organic Regulation in the Official Journal
The new Organic Regulation was published in the EU Official Journal and can be downloaded in all the EU official languages.
Quick links for the Regulation in the following languages:
The Agriculture Council has today adopted the revised new organic regulation on
organic food and farming. The new regulation will come into force at 1.
January 2009. This concludes the first stage in the process of replacing Council Regulation 2092/91, which was started 18 months ago with the publication of the Commission’s draft proposals. The focus will now move to the Implementing Rules, which will be critical to the success, or otherwise, of this new regulation.
IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Special Committee of Agriculture concerning Article 16.g
14th May, 2007 - IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Special Committee of Agriculture concerning the discussion within the European institutions and the
Special Committee on Agriculture about Article 16.g from
the Proposals for Council Regulations on organic production and
labelling of organic products.
To read the letter, please click the link below:
IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to German Minister
On 30th April 2007, IFOAM EU Group sent a letter
to the German Federal Minister of Food, Agriculture and Consumer
Protection with comments and suggestions on the proposal for a new
Council regulation on organic production and labeling.
You can read the letter in the following link:
IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commission
The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter to the Commission with comments and suggestions for the implementing rules that will replace Annex VI in the Organic Regulation.
To read the letter, follow the link:
European Parliament sent report back to committee
The European
Parliament (EP) voted on Thursday, 29 March on amendments on the Council proposal
for the revision of the organic regulation. One
amendment was demanding a co-decision procedure on the issue which would give
the Parliament more power. As Council and Commission rejected to accept this
amendment the Parliament has sent back the report to the agriculture committee
to discuss it again. It seems that the Parliament tries to block the process in
order to get more negotiation power towards the other two EU institution.
Please
find here the approved amendments by the EP
Organic Sector Commenting new Regulation
Strong concerns about GMOs, EU logo and lack of stakeholder involvement - but glad Council could be convinced to allow private standards
Brussels, 20/12/2006 – The Agricultural Council yesterday agreed on the outlines of the new organic regulation (1). The IFOAM EU Group regrets that the Council did not take those extra steps needed to achieve a mature regulation. “The latest text has clearly progressed since the original proposal”, said Francis Blake, president of the IFOAM EU Group. “Now, just as the Council is making strong headway, a quick decision was made before the end of the year. This appears to be at the expense of an optimal solution.”
Council came to Agreement on Revison
The Council came to an agreement (qualified majority) on the revision proposal of the organic regulation at the last Agricultural Council meeting under the Finnish Presidency. The Council decided on a "general approach". That means that the political process in the Council is finalised.
The German Presidency (01.01.-30.06.2007) will have only the possibility to make some minor technical changes. The text can officially be adopted after the European Paliament has approved its report.
European Parliament Discussed Revision
The Agricultural Committee of the European Parliament discussed on December 18 the revision of the organic regualtion. The rapporteur on this issue, Green MEP Aubert, presenteted her draft reportto its collegues.
The MEPs have now time to forward amendments until the 22th January. The report is supposed to be decided on in March 2007.
IFOAM EU Revision Newsletter Launched
On December 15 the IFOAM EU Group launched its newsletter No 14 as an extra edition on the revision of the Organic Regulation. The newsletter is to inform and update our members on the running revision process. The Council of ministers will discuss and likely also agree on the issue on Tuesday, December 19.
IFOAM Sent Letter on Organic Imports
IFOAM has sent on December 4, 2006 a letter to the Finnish Presidency concerning organic imports. It reflects the the latest proposal from the Finnish Presidency from November 30, 2006. The Finnish Presidency has produced a new paper for the discussion in the Special Committee on Agriculture.
New Finnish Proposal on Organic Imports
The Finnish Presidency forwarded on November 30,2006 a new text to the Member States how to regualte organic imports (part1&2).
New Finnish Proposal
The Finnish Presidency sent on Thursday, 23rd November 2006 a new proposal concerning certain articles (1-2,11, 7,14, 17-21, 24) to Member States. It is expected that the Finnish Presidency will try a last time to finalise the negotaitions in the Council until Christmas. The text takes into account two major concerns of the organic sector as it proposes to delete article 20 and 24. However, there are still points to be improved to achieve a mature new regulation. At the same time the Special Committee on Agriculture will discuss on Monday 27, 2006 on the import of organic products.
IFOAM EU Group Expresses Support for new German/French proposals
On November 24, 2006 IFOAM EU Group wrote a letter to the Finnish Presidency in support of the new German/French amendments for the revision of the EU ‘organic’ regulation and urging further time for discussion. Francis Blake, President of the IFOAM EU Group, stated in the letter, “I wish to express our concern at the pressure to reach a final decision on the proposal for a revision of Regulation 2092/91 in December. More time and more work is needed to bring it to a successful conclusion”.
IFOAM EU Letter Sent to Commissioner Fischer Boel
The IFOAM EU Group sent a letter on November 21, 2006 to Commissioner Fischer Boel after meeting her one week before. In the letter the most crucial points regarding the current discussion in the Council on the Finnish compromise paper were outlined.
The IFOAM EU Group considers it as important that enough time will be given for a mature regulation instead of finalising the file until the end of the year even if important issues are not sufficiently reflected.
IFOAM EU Delegation met Agricultural Commissioner Fischer Boel
The IFOAM EU Group met today the Agriculture Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. The IFOAM EU Group emphased that there is still much work to do on the revision proposal for a new Organic EU Regulation as it is still not mature enough. The latest text has progressed since the original proposal but there are still issues and concerns that will cause significant problems. This was the main message the IFOAM EU Group delegation brought to Commissioner Fischer Boel at a meeting today.
IFOAM World Sent Letter to Finnish Presidency
IFOAM has sent a letter on November 13, 2006 to the Finnish Presidency. The organisation aimed to re-state its position on amending Article 37 of EC Regulation 2092/91 dealing with the imports of organic products.
New Compromise Paper of the Finnish Presidency
The Finnish Presidency has sent a new compromise paper to Member States and thus to the Special Committee on Agriculture dated on Ocotber 25, 2006. The Presidency aims to come to a political agreement until the end of the year.
The IFOAM EU Group urges the EU institutions to give sufficent time to achieve a good regulation. The Group is concerned that the new compromsie paper still has not solved major problem areas and there are still technical shortcomings to solve. Additionally, new topics are brought into the compromsie paper which have not yet been discussed with the stakeholders.
IFOAM EU Group Publish Position Paper on Stakeholder Involvement
The IFOAM EU group published a position paper on stakeholder involvement and forwarded it to the EU instituions in October 2006. The paper was a linked to the groups concern that the sector was not sufficiently involved in the process of the revision of the organic regulation.
IFOAM EU Letter to Finnish EU Presidency
The IFOAM EU Group has sent a letter to the Finnish Presidency on October 18 to express its serious concern about the Presidency ambition to finalise the Revision proposal by end of this year.
The IFOAM EU group has deep reservations about the quality of the regulation that will result if the Presidency will pursue this timetable. The subsequent drafts that have emerged didnot take into account suggestions from the sector to improve the regualtion.
Commission Work Document on Organic Inspection Published
The European Commission has forwarded its Commission Staff Working Document "Comparative analysis between the control provisions laid down in the proposal for a new Council Regulation on organic production (COM/2005/671) and the inspection system laid down in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91" on September 6, 2006 to the Council and the European Parliament.
Revision Newsletter published on July 19
The IFOAM EU Group published on July 19 its extra edtion newsletter on the revision of the Organic Regulation. The newsletter aims to inform and update you about the process and latest deveopment of the revision of the Organic Regulation 2092/91. The newsletter will be also translated in most of the other EU languages within the next two weeks.
New Council Compromise Paper
On 28th of June the Austrian Presidency drafted in conjunction with its successor, the Finnish Presidency (01.07.-31.12.2006) a second compromise paper. The further discussion in the European Council will be based on this paper.
Conference in European Parliament
Over 90 stakeholders from eleven different EU countries participated at the public conference ’Organic farming: Ready for the next Decade?’ on March 27, 2006 in the European Parliament. The delegates discussed the Commission’s proposal on the Revision of the Organic Regulation with the Austrian Presidency, the European Commission and the European Parliament. The conference was organised by the IFOAM EU Group together with the responsible rapporteurs from the European Parliament, Marie-Hélène Aubert and F.W. Graefe zu Baringdorf.......
