La legislation on organic farming has been regulated in Europe since Reg. (CE) n ° 834/2007. This is useful not only for producers but also for consumers who can thus read labels compliant and regulated that will be the same in all European countries. Let's find out better.
> History of the legislation on organic farming
> The importance of regulation in the organic sector
> The legislation and the organic product
> European logo to recognize an organic product
History of organic farming legislation
Organic farming was first regulated in Europe with the community regulation n. 2092 of 1991.
This EEC Regulation indicated the method for organic production for agricultural products only, excluding the livestock sector and the production of wine and oil, included in subsequent regulations. Instead, the procedure and rules for the labeling and control of organic products were already indicated.
In 1992 a new regulation, n. 2078 it specified the methods of organic agricultural production with the needs for a correct management of the environment and natural spaces, also leading to the possibility of obtaining contributions to those who started this agricultural method.
In the country the European Regulation was implemented with the DM 220/95 which sees its implementation.
For the regulation of animal productions from organic farming it was necessary to wait for the EC Reg. N ° 1804/99. In this legislation, great importance is given to the complete traceability of the food and to the transparency of production and marketing.
Currently, the European Regulation on organic farming is regulated by Reg. (EC) No. 834/2007 which repealed the previous regulations of 1991 and 1999. In the regulation of 2007, aquaculture was also added as animal production of food of organic origin.
You can learn more about the productions and advantages of organic farming
The importance of regulation in the organic sector
A regulation for the organic sector is essential because:
- it serves to unify the regulations on the organic sector at a European level, guaranteeing fair competition between the producers of the various countries
- it is useful to the consumer who can read compliant and regulated labels that will be the same in all European countries
- establishes a control system from production to marketing for all foods certified "from organic farming"
- makes organic food production and processing processes transparent
The legislation and the organic product
The regulation defines the rules that must be respected in order to obtain the certification of one's product as “from organic farming”.
For each phase of the product from production to preparation, from transport to marketing, from storage, from import to conservation, rules are set that must be respected under penalty of exclusion from certification.
In organic products the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) is excluded, each step is traced and only some natural products are allowed (not of chemical synthesis) both during cultivation or breeding and during the transformation, processing and marketing phases (additives, excipients, etc ...). These permitted substances are listed in the annex of the regulation itself and are therefore authorized for various uses: fertilizing the soil, defending crops, transforming and improving the recipe of the product that is certified as organic.
For organic farms are given rules to be respected during the life of the animals considering and satisfying i physiological and ethological needs (of behavior) of the animals themselves. Respect for these needs is linked to the land, to a suitable diet and to minimum surfaces and spaces for shelter and stables. Beekeeping is also regulated for the production of hive products of organic farming origin.
In addition to the rules relating to organic production are also establishedand the rules for correct labeling of organic products and even the rules for the promotion and advertising of organic products so as not to mislead the consumer. Finally, it regulates the import and export of such foods of "organic farming origin" from or to third countries.
The development and growth of the market for these products of organic origin leads to wanting to further improve the legislation precisely to try on the one hand to simplify bureaucracy and obtain certification and on the other hand to ensure increasingly better production standards, procedures of control and certification even safer and more efficient and last but not least increase the protection for the consumer himself.
The European logo to recognize an organic food product
It has been used since 2010 a trademark of the European Union indicating on the label that this product contains at least 95% organic ingredients.
The logo was created through a competition, and was chosen as the winning icon a stylized leaf on a green background whose outline is formed by 12 white stars.
Together with this logo, organic products must display the countries of origin of the raw materials: and the country, EU, non-EU or EU / non-EU.
Obtaining the label for an organic product must be issued by a control body.
This certifying body has been authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture to grant this mark to be affixed on the label only after having ascertained and verified compliance with the rules of Reg. (EC) No. 834/2007 on organic production by the manufacturing company.
The label will therefore feature the European organic certification logo, the code number of the control authority or body and the origin of the raw materials.
READ MORE
The certainty of organic certification
Other articles on organic farming legislation:
> The law and the label of organic foods
> Bhutan, the first organic country
