Organic Farming in the EU P2P study tour Brussels, 19 January 2011 Miltos Krimizis

Overview Organic Farming in the EU New Organic Logo and Labelling EU promotion campaign Conclusions – Questions & Answers

Organic Farming in the EU Brief history Origins of modern organic farming in early 1900's Organised response to spread organic farming practices starting after 1940's Organic movements, 1970's & development of private standards Governmental standards after 1980's

Organic Farming in the EU at EU level (1) First harmonised EU rules in 1993 (Regulation (EEC) 2092/91) Rural Development support schemes to Organic Farming as from 1992 onwards EU Action Plan 2004 Support scheme for promotion of agricultural products, including Organic Farming

Organic Farming in the EU at EU level (2) Organic Farming promotion campaign EU Research projects New EU legislation (Regulation (EC) 834/2007 and implementing rules) New EU organic logo as from July 2010 and promotion

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (1) 7.6 mio ha in of organic land (in conversion and fully converted)  4.3% of EU-27 utilised agricultural area (UAA) organic farming holdings – 2008 –1.4 % of EU-27 farming holdings

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (2) Area under organic cultivation in the EU (mio ha)

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (3) Organic area (certified organic + in-conversion) in the Member States in 2001, 2004, 2007 and 2008 ('000 ha)

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (4) Share of the organic area in the UAA in the EU-27, 2008 (%)

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (5) Average annual level of new producers and of producers leaving the organic sector in the period (% of total number of certified holdings)

Organic Farming in the EU Facts & Figures (6) The global market for organic products in 2008 (US $) The global market for organic food and drink (Source: FiBL – Organic Monitor) Europe: 26 billion $Europe: 26 billion $ North America: 23 billion $North America: 23 billion $

Organic Farming in the EU EU legislative framework Applying from 1 st January 2009 EU legislation at a glance (1)  Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 (basic legislation)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 and subsequent amendments (detailed technical rules)  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1235/2008 (imported products)

Organic Farming in the EU EU legislation at a glance (2) Role of the EU legislation  To define objectives and principles  To fix production rules, labelling and control rules  To protect the consumer (organic claim)

Organic Farming in the EU EU legislation at a glance (3) Scope All stages of production, preparation and distribution including: Plants, seeds, wild collection Livestock and bees Aquaculture Food and feed Yeast To be developed: Wine Specific rules for feed, poultry, … Not covered: Hunting and fishing of wild animals Cosmetics, textile

Organic Farming in the EU EU legislation at a glance (4) Controls Official Food and Feed Control (Regulation 882/2004) Control bodies or Control authorities Accreditation to EN or ISO 65 explicitly required Risk based One obligatory on-the-spot inspection per year Entire production chain covered

Organic Farming in the EU EU legislation at a glance (5) Imports Equivalency via Third Country list Third Countries recognised by EU (9) Equivalency via Control bodies list Control body recognised by EU Compliance via Control bodies list Control body recognised by the EU Phasing out: import authorisations by EU Member States

New Organic Logo and Labelling Labelling requirements under EU legislation Mandatory EU logo from 1 July 2010 > 95% organic ingredients Code number of Control body or Authority Place of farming: EU/non-EU Agriculture Possible labelling of ingredients

New Organic Logo and Labelling

contains two messages: Nature and Europe

New Organic Logo and Labelling Easy to recognize: no translations, appealing, symbolic Compulsory on the European products but not exclusive Selected via European competition among art and design students Chosen by European citizens via internet vote Introduced into EU legislation Registered as collective mark

New Organic Logo and Labelling compulsory for organic pre-packaged food from 1 July 2010 voluntary for non pre-packaged organic food transition period 2 years must be accompanied by: - code number of the control body (format AB-CDE-999) - place of farming (EU agriculture/ “country” agriculture) The new EU Organic logo on products produced within the EU:

New Organic Logo and Labelling Products out of the scope of the EU legislation (hunting/fishing wild animals, cosmetics, textiles) Containing less than 95% of organic ingredients Products in conversion Products for which only national rules apply The new EU Organic logo cannot be used:

New Organic Logo and Labelling Use is optional Independent of import system applied Code number of Control Body Place of farming (Non-EU agriculture) The new EU Organic logo on imported products in the EU :

New Organic Logo and Labelling Logo specifications

New Organic Logo and Labelling Logo design (for download) Terms of use (regulations on use) User manual Questions and Answers Where to find more information:

EU promotion campaign Multi-annual EU-wide information and promotion campaign on organic food and farming started in December inform consumers, retailers, catering and restaurant services, and other key actors in the food chain about the meaning and merits of organic farming. increase consumer awareness and recognition of organic products, in particular the European logo.

EU promotion campaign Objectives of the campaign Creation of an “umbrella” campaign for organic farming, aimed at supporting the national campaigns in the European Union. Not intended to replace national initiatives, but to support existing campaigns and co-financed programmes. Bio, mijn natuur (co-financed by the EU) Bio Benessere (co-financed by the EU) Printemps Bio 2006 (co-financed by the EU)

EU promotion campaign Campaign slogan

EU promotion campaign To provide information on organic farming to numerous target groups. To increase the TRUST in organic farming along the organic farming chain. The campaign’s focus

EU promotion campaign To increase consumer awareness of quality control and environmental protection. To contribute to the growth of organic farming all over Europe. To encourage farmers to participate in both food quality schemes and the marketing of quality agricultural products Specific objectives:

EU promotion campaign Information and Promotion tools “Organic farming website” in all EU languages The website is a comprehensive information and communication platform for consumers as well as stakeholders and multipliers.

Conclusions A significant amount of work has been done by all concerned stakeholders, Member States and the Commission in recent years to revise the legislation and to promote organic farming. The experience gained from the application of this legislation will be the subject of a report which the Commission will present to the Council before the end of The Commission will continue to work with stakeholders and national administrations to develop the EU standards.

Thank you for your attention,Thank you for your attention, Miltos Krimizis