{"id":122344,"date":"2026-01-26T10:40:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-26T09:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/?p=122344"},"modified":"2026-01-26T10:40:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T09:40:37","slug":"improve-eu-market-for-organic-products","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bioecoactual.com\/en\/2026\/01\/26\/improve-eu-market-for-organic-products\/","title":{"rendered":"Greener Together: organic companies call to improve the functioning of the EU market for organic products"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite the considerable potential of the EU Single Market<\/strong>, serving 450 million consumers \u2014many of whom are driven by environmental awareness\u2014 organic companies have been slow to capitalize on the opportunities at their doorstep. Three organic companies explain the obstacles their products must overcome to reach consumers in different EU countries.<\/p>\n

\"Jan
Photo courtesy of OPTA Europe. Jan Groen<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Presence of pesticides: present in some countries, absent in others<\/h2>\n

The most telling example of internal dysfunction is the handling of pesticide residues<\/strong>. The organic regulation sets out several obligations triggered by the \u201cpresence\u201d of non-authorized substances, yet it does not define what \u201cpresence\u201d means. This has led to diverging interpretations of the concept of \u201cpresence\u201d between Member States, creating situations that cause costly distortions in the Single Market.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I buy a batch of goods from an operator located in a Member State applying a different standard for \u2018presence, \u2018 I must block the goods in case of positive test lab, but I cannot turn to the supplier because the product is compliant with his own country\u203as standards, \u201d said Jan Groen<\/strong>, CEO-Founder of Green Organics Group<\/strong>. \u201cTo improve the Single Market, my company\u2019s priority is to achieve consistent standards and responses to the \u2018presence\u2019 of non-authorized substances across Member States.\u201d<\/p>\n

Customs procedures: right way, wrong way<\/h3>\n

Importers of organic products face serious problems due to inconsistent interpretation of customs procedures when non-authorized substances are found in organic products. In some Member States, organic products with residue findings\u2014detected just before entry into the EU\u2014are automatically decertified by customs without any investigation. Such practices are well known among EU-based importers, who, in response, seek easier ways to enter the EU market<\/strong> by relocating import facilities to other Member States with a less rigorous approach.<\/p>\n

If the EU is truly committed to safeguarding biodiversity and restoring nature, it must take concrete action to ensure that organic products are accessible to consumers in every corner of the Single Market<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\u201cWhen there are contracts to fulfil and deadlines to meet, companies cannot afford any surprises, \u201d said Karst Kooistra<\/strong>, Sourcing Development Director at Tradin Organic<\/strong>. \u201cWell-trained customs officers and a clear, harmonized EU-wide procedure would greatly simplify our work. In turn, it would positively impact our suppliers in third countries and our customers in the EU.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Photo courtesy of OPTA Europe. Karst Kooistra<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Food supplements: required in some countries, forbidden in others<\/h3>\n

Current EU rules about fortification of organic products result in a patchy internal market, as supplements required in some national markets\u2014for example, vitamin D in dairy products aimed at the Finnish market\u2014are not allowed in others.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only does this disrupt the Single Market, but it also prevents us from reaching organic consumers who need to fill a nutritional gap,\u201d said David Care<\/strong>, Manager of Ecotone and President of ASOBIO<\/strong>, the Spanish association of organic processors. \u201cWe need consistent rules to reach consumers across the EU.\u201d<\/p>\n

As these companies demonstrate, Europe\u2019s organic future relies on removing the invisible barriers that still fragment the market. The aim is not merely to increase sales of organic products, but to help reshape the EU\u2019s entire food system into a more sustainable one. If the EU is truly committed to safeguarding biodiversity and restoring nature, it must take concrete action to ensure that organic products can circulate freely and be accessible to consumers in every corner of the Single Market. We are greener together. \uf06e<\/p>\n

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  • Consider\u00a0becoming a member<\/a>\u00a0of\u00a0OPTA<\/strong>, the\u00a0Organic Processing and Trade Association<\/strong>.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    \"OPTA<\/p>\n

    Author:\u00a0<\/strong>Aurora Abad, OPTA Secretary General<\/p>\n

    Published in the BIOFACH 2026 Bio Eco Actual Special Edition.<\/em><\/p>\n

    Subscribe<\/a> to Bio Eco Actual Newsletter and be up to date with the latest news from the Organic Sector<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Bio Eco Actual<\/strong>, International Organic Newspaper
    \n     Read the BIOFACH 2026 Bio Eco Actual Special Edition<\/a> <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n