On 20 October 2026, the European Parliament and the Council of the European Union reached a provisional agreement on the revision of the rules governing organic production and the labelling of organic products, introducing targeted amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
The agreement aims to simplify the regulatory framework, reduce administrative burdens for businesses and strengthen consumer confidence in the European organic certification system, while maintaining high production and control standards.
The changes will affect the entire supply chain, from farms and livestock producers to processing companies, importers and traders, with the aim of providing greater legal certainty and ensuring fairer competitive conditions within the European market.
Imported Organic Products: New Conditions for Using the EU Logo
One of the key aspects of the agreement concerns the use of the EU organic logo on products imported from third countries.
Products imported from countries whose organic production systems are recognised as equivalent to the EU system will continue to be marketed as organic.
However, the use of the EU organic logo will be subject to compliance with additional requirements, aimed at ensuring greater consistency with the rules applicable to European producers.
These requirements cover aspects such as:
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Cultivation in living soil;
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Compliance with animal welfare provisions;
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Application of specific processing methods;
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Compliance with production and control requirements established by EU legislation.
The objective is to protect the value and recognition of the EU organic logo, ensuring greater transparency for consumers and more balanced competitive conditions for EU businesses.
The agreement also rules out the possibility, initially included in the Commission's proposal, of using the EU organic logo on products containing less than 5% of ingredients originating from third countries that do not meet the additional requirements.
Imports: Equivalence Recognition Extended Until 2036
Another significant development concerns trade relations with non-EU countries.
The European Union currently recognises the organic production systems of 11 third countries as equivalent, including Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.
The agreement provides for the extension of this recognition until 31 December 2036, compared with the current expiry date of 31 December 2026.
This measure is intended to ensure continuity in international trade, prevent disruptions to imports and provide greater stability for businesses operating in international organic supply chains.
Small Operators: Simplified Certification Requirements
The agreement also introduces simplification measures for small businesses selling unpackaged organic products directly to final consumers.
In particular, the thresholds for benefiting from an exemption from the certification obligation, subject to the conditions established by the legislation, will be increased:
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Annual turnover: from €20,000 to €40,000.
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Quantity of products sold: from 5,000 to 10,000 kg per year.
The measure aims to reduce administrative burdens for smaller operators, facilitating their participation in the organic market.
Exemption from certification does not, however, mean exemption from compliance with the rules governing organic production and marketing, nor does it eliminate any applicable control obligations.
Organic Production: Changes Affecting Livestock Farming, Feed and Processing
The agreement also introduces a series of technical amendments to organic production rules, aimed at simplifying certain requirements and ensuring more consistent application of the standards.
The areas concerned include:
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Livestock production: updates to certain provisions concerning organic poultry farming, including the introduction of a minimum slaughter age for quails and adjustments to outdoor access requirements for young birds.
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Feed and aquaculture: adjustments to certain provisions concerning the temporary use of specific non-organic inputs and the conditions applicable to animal production.
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Conversion to organic farming: simplification and greater harmonisation of the rules governing the transition from conventional to organic production systems.
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Veterinary treatments: greater harmonisation of provisions concerning withdrawal periods following the administration of veterinary medicinal products, particularly for terrestrial animals and aquaculture.
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Cleaning and disinfection: greater flexibility in the provisions governing products used for cleaning and disinfecting organic processing facilities.
The amendments also address certain aspects of soil fertility management in greenhouse cultivation.
These are targeted measures designed to facilitate the implementation of EU provisions without changing the fundamental principles of organic production.
Contamination Between Organic and Conventional Production: Greater Harmonisation
The revision also addresses contamination between organic and conventional production, an issue of particular importance for farms and food processing companies.
Different interpretations and approaches to implementing EU provisions can create operational uncertainty and inconsistencies among Member States.
To encourage more uniform application of the rules, the European Commission is expected to provide information on best practices for preventing contamination, starting from 31 December 2031.
The initiative aims to improve risk management throughout the supply chain, promote preventive measures and contribute to greater consistency in the implementation of EU requirements.
What Will Change for Businesses in the Organic Sector?
The revision of the European regulatory framework represents an important development for companies producing, processing, importing or marketing organic products.
In particular, operators will need to pay attention to several aspects:
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Compliance and labelling: verifying the conditions for using the EU organic logo, particularly for products imported from third countries.
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Certification and administrative requirements: assessing the applicability of the new simplification measures and exemption thresholds for small operators.
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Production requirements: examining the technical amendments affecting agricultural, livestock and processing activities.
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Traceability and risk prevention: maintaining appropriate supplier control systems and contamination prevention measures to safeguard the integrity of organic products.
Next Steps: Final Adoption Expected by the End of 2026
The agreement reached on 20 October 2026 is still provisional and must be formally approved by the European Parliament and the Council of the EU.
The agreed text will undergo the necessary legal and linguistic review before being formally adopted by the two institutions and subsequently published in the Official Journal of the European Union.
The objective is to complete the legislative process by 31 December 2026, the date on which the current equivalence recognition regime for the organic production systems of 11 third countries is due to expire.
The new provisions will become applicable according to the timetable established in the final regulation, including any transitional measures.
Businesses operating in the organic sector should therefore monitor the progress of the legislative process, review the final provisions and plan any necessary adjustments to production, certification and labelling requirements.
The revision forms part of the EU's broader efforts to strengthen organic farming, seeking to combine regulatory simplification, business competitiveness and the credibility of certification systems.
In this context, organic certification continues to play a fundamental role in ensuring product compliance, supply chain transparency and consumer confidence, helping to enhance the value of businesses investing in sustainable and verifiable production methods.