New organic 2022 regulation
New organic legislation is applicable from 1 January 2022, following the postponement of its implementation for a year. The rules reflect the changing nature of this rapidly growing sector. The new regulation is designed to ensure fair competition for farmers whilst preventing fraud and maintaining consumer trust through the following:
- production rules are simplified through the phasing out of a number of exceptions and opt outs;
- the control system is strengthened thanks to tighter precautionary measures and robust checks along the entire supply chain;
- producers in third countries will have to comply with the same set of rules as those producing in the EU;
- organic rules cover a wider list of products (e.g. salts, cork, beeswax, wool, etc) and have additional production rules (e.g. deer, rabbits and poultry);
- certification will be easier for small farmers thanks to a new system of group certification;
- there will be a more uniform approach to reducing the risk of accidental contamination from pesticides.
Postponement by one year of the application date Due to the health crisis, the European Commission has announced a postponement by one year of application of the new regulation EU 2018/848 initially scheduled for 1 January 2021, within the EU, i.e. 1 January 2022, and no later than 31 December 2024 outside the EU.
In the European Union, the current European regulations will be repealed in favour of the new European Organic Regulation on 1 January 2022. This is the basic law, and will be supplemented by secondary laws, which will detail and complete implementation of the regulation, some of which have already been published by the European Commission.
Outside the European Union, operators will have a transition period from 1 January 2022, to 31 December 2024, to adapt their activity to the new regulation. No later than 1 January 2025, all our customers currently certified under the “Non-EU CERTISYS Standard” will therefore have to be certified under EU 2018/848 to be able to export their organic products to the EU because their CERTISYS certificate will no longer be valid as of that date.
What will change? Here is the main information
- Strict import rules
In the absence of an agreement guaranteeing the equivalence of the organic specifications of the non-EU country with the EU’s organic regulation, an organic product exported to the EU will be controlled according to the European regulation. In this case, the rules will therefore be exactly the same for a producer in the EU as one outside the EU.
- Expansion of the range of products eligible for organic certification
New products will be able to be certified organic, in particular salt, essential oils not intended for human consumption, natural gums and resins, cotton, wool and raw hides, beeswax, as well as silkworm cocoons.
- Some changes to production and transformation rules
For plant production: Details on the origin of seeds and plants used have been provided. In addition, farms will have to grow legumes, for their role in soil fertility. Note that soil-less crops, such as hydroponics, are still prohibited.
For animal productions: The most noteworthy changes concern the conditions for rearing poultry and pigs, with an increased consideration of animal welfare with regards to the layout of buildings and outdoor spaces. There are also restrictions on the feeding and purchase of non-organic pullets.
Food processing: The major change concerns the manufacture and use of flavourings. Only natural flavours whose source is 95% unique (for example, “natural vanilla flavour”) will be authorised.
- Labelling
Greater flexibility on the origin of products is granted. Products with the mention “EU Agriculture” will be able to contain 5% of ingredients from outside the EU, and no longer 2% as today.
- Capping of the number of certification bodies
An enterprise wishing to have a product category certified will only have to use a single certification body.
- Certification of producer groups in all countries
Certification of producer groups will now be accessible to all countries and be supported by enhanced controls. The size of each farm and the number of group members will be limited, for example. Further amendments are likely to be made to the new regulation.
For more information, we invite you to visit the website of the European Commission
https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/organic-farming/future-organics_en
European Quality Food
Since the very old years, European cuisine has been based on a large set of excellent quality organic agricultural products and food, such as virgin olive oil, delicious cheeses, natural juices from carefully selected fruits from European orchards, the fragrant coffee and tea that accompany them. ideally our breakfast and more.
European organic products stand out and win the consumer's preference over time for many reasons, but above all for their top quality, which is certified by the strict framework of rules applied by all European producers throughout the production process and which is reinforced by organic marking.
More specifically, the organic label means that throughout production no chemicals were used, neither in fertilization nor in plant protection, but environmentally friendly production methods were applied, with the aim of maintaining the sustainability of the environment and the ecosystem for the next generations.
Three areas with excellent soil and climate conditions are Bulgaria, Romania and Greece, areas with high know-how, large agricultural production and a rich culinary tradition that includes a set of organic products such as virgin olive oil from the best olive varieties with which you can take off deliciously every dish, cheeses with a rich taste and high nutritional value, juices straight from the freshest and selected fruits, fine coffee and tea to enjoy your every little and big moment always together with delicious pastries and organic honey.
In the context of the above, the EU ORGANIC DEAL program promotes European organic products from Bulgaria, Romania and Greece in the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates aiming both to increase the consumption of the promoted products in these countries and to increase information about of their advantages and exceptional qualities.
Quality:
European farmers and food producers have a reputation for producing a diverse range of high-quality products. Beyond the legal requirements, there are additional aspects of product quality, which are also valued by consumers, e.g. the use of traditional farming methods in production.
The primary efforts for the improvement of the food quality were entered into the Agricultural Policy of the European Union. EU legislation sets strict criteria guaranteeing the standards of all European products. Key figures on European quality policy are the Common Organization of Markets for agricultural products, the determination of common legislative frameworks of all the EU Member States to define together the specifications, the operating framework and the inspection regime, which ensure that the specifications are common to the whole European market. Cultivation and production methods meet international and European quality and safety standards.
Food safety:
The main objective of the European Commission's food safety policy is to ensure a high level of protection of human health and consumer interests relating to food, taking also into account the diversity and the effective functioning of the external market. Strict EU rules were tightened in 2000 to ensure that European food is extremely safe.
EU's integrated approach aims to ensure a high level of food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health in the European Union by taking consistent measures from farm to consumption and proper surveillance. EU authorities carefully evaluate risk and always seek the best possible scientific advice before prohibit or allow any product, ingredient, additive or genetically modified organism. This dissemination of knowledge will allow consumers to evaluate the EU products, to understand why so much emphasis on food safety is given and thus to lead them buy EU products rather than products imported from other countries.
The European Green Deal sets out how to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. It maps a new, sustainable and inclusive growth strategy to boost the economy, improve people's health and quality of life, care for nature, and leave no one behind.
From Farm to Fork Strategy
The Farm to Fork Strategy is at the heart of the Green Deal, aiming to make food systems fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly. It addresses comprehensively the challenges of sustainable food systems and recognizes the inextricable links between healthy people, healthy societies, and a healthy planet. The strategy is also central to the Commission’s agenda to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). All citizens and operators across value chains, in the EU and elsewhere, should benefit from a just transition, especially in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic downturn.
A shift to a sustainable food system can bring environmental, health, and social benefits, offer economic gains and ensure that the recovery from the crisis puts us onto a sustainable path. Ensuring a sustainable livelihood for primary producers, who still lag in terms of income, is essential for the success of the recovery and the transition.
EU legislation, based on the European Green Deal, has set as a general goal a new development strategy for the EU, with the aim of transforming it into a climate-neutral, equitable and prosperous society, which will have a modern, efficient use of resources and a competitive economy. In particular, through the Farm-to-Fork strategy, the Union seeks to ensure adequate, economical and nutritious food, to ensure sustainable food production by substantially reducing the use of pesticides, antimicrobials and fertilizers, and to promote food consumption and healthy eating.
The proposing organisations, consistently following the priorities set regarding sustainability, are fully complied with the content and the spirit of EU legislation.
The rationalization of production through the management of inputs-outputs, leads to addressing the negative consequences of over-irrigation (waste of water and energy), increased greenhouse gas emissions, improper use of fertilization and increased production costs.
Direct consequence of these practices is the reduction of the environmental footprint with the simultaneous production of high nutritional value products, which comply with national and European standards.
