New organic regulations published
Application of the new EU Organic Regulation
Originally, the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 was set to apply from 1 January 2021. However, the development of the secondary legislation is still ongoing and many Delegated Acts and Implementing Measures still have to be adopted. Many of them were planned to be published in November and December 2020, giving the organic sector no time to adapt.
In April 2020, IFOAM Organics Europe had asked for a one-year postponement of the application of the new rules, from 1 January 2021 to 1 January 2022. Thanks to the organic movement’s tireless advocacy work in Brussels and at national level we managed to make the implementation of the new regulation more realistic for the sector.
Even if it was a simple change of date, this is the first time that a Basic Regulation is amended before its application. It was a mission ‘almost’ impossible and realised through the coordinated efforts of our members!
The Commission issued a proposal for a one-year postponement on 4 September 2020. Afterwards, the EU Parliament voted on it in plenary session, with 683 votes in favour, 3 against, 8 abstentions, and the Council of Ministers unanimously adopted the proposal as well.
Regulation (EU) 2020/1693 which postpones the application of the New EU Organic Regulation by one year was published in the EU Official Journal on 13 November 2020. You find the new text in all languages in the EU’s official journal.
Regulation on temporary derogations
Additionally, on 11 November another important Regulation has been published in the EU Official Journal. Regulation (EU) 2020/1667 prolongs most of the temporary derogations to some control requirements provided for in Regulations (EC) No 889/2008 and No 1235/2008 and to TRACES until 1 February 2021.
These derogations were established in July 2020 through Regulation (EU) 2020/977 due to Covid-19 pandemic.
IFOAM Organics Europe’s members can contact [email protected] for questions on the EU Organic Regulation. Please note that we will not answer to non-members’ requests.