The European Commission has announced a targeted revision of the EU Organic Regulation, aiming to streamline certain rules and respond to a recent ruling by the Court of Justice of the European Union on labelling requirements for products imported from the so-called “equivalent” third countries. While the revision is framed as a technical update, many in the sector see it as an opportunity for broader reform. OPTA Europe, the association representing EU organic processors and traders, has welcomed the move—but says the review should go further. “This revision should not be seen as a simple legal formality—it’s a chance to fix what’s not working,” said Aurora Abad, Secretary General. “We urge the Commission to address the key issues that continue to burden operators and hinder the growth of the organic sector.”
After several years of working under the current regulation, operators across the organic supply chain have identified persistent challenges that need urgent attention. Among the changes OPTA Europe is calling for a reduced bureaucracy, for example by regulating more effectively the list of cleaning agents and disinfectants that can be used for processing and storage of organic products. For Bénédicte Meurens, CEO of Meurens Natural, there is little doubt about the need for this improvement “We cannot live with endless lists of products that can or cannot be used to clean our establishments. We need clear, simple and practical rules”.
An additional change supported by OPTA Europe is the allowance of a safe and rational fortification of certain categories of organic food. “Divergent rules about fortification in European markets disrupt the single market and prevent us from reaching organic consumers who need to fill a nutritional gap”, said David Care, Manager of Ecotone and president of Asobio, the Spanish association of organic processors. “This revision is an occasion to place greater emphasis on the processing industry, a true hallmark of European excellence”.
This revision is an occasion to place greater emphasis on the processing industry, a true hallmark of European excellence
Another key objective for OPTA Europe is to keep organic trade flowing by retaining the principle of ‘organic equivalence’ and by extending the validity of the current equivalence arrangements with 11 third countries. One of the Commission’s goal is to adapt the legislation to a 2024 ruling on organic food imports, known as the Herbaria case. OPTA Europe is supportive of these efforts to preserve the concept of ‘organic equivalence’ and to prevent the proliferation of non-EU organic logos in shelves, which will only confuse consumers.
Finally, a critical OPTA Europe’s ask is to have clearer and harmonized rules when it comes to the presence of non-authorized substances in organic food. For the association, it is not a question of lowering standards, it is simply a matter of learning from experience and improving the processes that operators in the sector have identified as overwhelming or impractical. For example, the regulation does not set timelines for official investigations to determine the source and cause of the residue; in practice they often take more than one year and, in many cases, exceed the shelf life of the products. “Irrespective of the results, repeated official investigations delay contractual obligations and harm the reputation of the company”, said Christine Gonzalez, the expert on organic certification at Martin Bauer. “Without changes in the processes, many companies will consider whether it makes economic sense to continue investing in the organic sector”.
Aurora Abad insists, “it is not about rewriting the rules that took so much effort to define, but about drawing lessons and improving their implementation”.
- Consider becoming a member of OPTA, the Organic Processing and Trade Association.
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