The past EU term was intense as the organic edifice was entirely reshaped. As the ‘new’ Organic Regulation 848/2018 started its implementation journey, some 25 legal acts were passed to supplement or to amend it, or to ensure that it is uniformly applied across the EU. The past term also saw the birth of a new EU Organic Action Plan, which sets an extensive list of non-regulatory actions and initiatives to increase the production and consumption of organic products and to make the sector more sustainable.
What does the 2024-2029 EU term look like? The efforts will focus on executing the new framework and on evaluating what’s working and what can still be improved. Work on legislation is not finished, however, and should continue in the next five years.
In first place, a very awaited report and a legislative proposal on the presence of non-authorized substances (mostly residues of chemical pesticides) in organic products is due end 2025. It will be preceded by independent scientific advice from EU technical bodies, such as the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the Joint Research Center (JRC).
“It is time to resolve a problem that has weighed on the sector for too long” said Aurora Abad, Secretary General of OPTA Europe. “Because it is a problem of a purely technical nature, we welcome that room has been made for science and we are confident that it will light the way out”.
Trade will also be on the spotlight in the next five years, as the new import and export regime for organic products will come into effect. Intended to boost the export opportunities for organic producers, its success will depend on the European Commission’s ability to handle the trade negotiations that must be simultaneously conducted with 13 countries during the next two years. The recently elected European Parliament will be asked to ratify these agreements before they can enter into force in 2027.
“Exports of EU agri-food products is a success story and organics want to play a larger role in it”.
“Exports of EU agri-food products is a success story and organic should play a larger role in it” said Stefan Hipp, President of OPTA Europe. “The organic processors have everything it takes to succeed: high-quality products with a high credibility in foreign markets and trade expertise. We are just missing the automatic acceptance of products that have been produced under EU organic standards to enter some export markets, so we look forward to the upcoming organic trade agreements.”
As important as the organic menu will be the capacity of the sector to take center stage in all cross-cutting policies
As important as the organic menu will be the capacity of the sector to take center stage in all cross-cutting policies. The newly reelected president of the European Commission Mrs. von der Leyen has committed to deliver a new European Strategy for Agriculture and Food as well as to prepare a plan for agriculture to adapt to climate change. In this path to a greener agriculture, organic companies hold an undisputable leadership position.
And amongst the special dishes that are in preparation in the EU oven, a watchful eye must be kept on the one on gene-edited crops (New Genomic Techniques) to make sure that the final recipe includes the necessary dose of legally binding traceability and labelling to give organic companies and consumers willing to be preserved from NGTs the tools to exert their right of free choice.
OPTA Europe is willing to work with the new Members of the European Parliament and the future Commission to make of this EU cycle a springboard for organic companies.
Author: Aurora Abad, OPTA Secretary General
Consider becoming a member of OPTA, the Organic Processing and Trade Association.
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