Use of the new EU organic logo Christina Gerstgrasser European Commission DG AGRI.H3 BioFach, 16 February 2012

Organic Food labelling Private Organic standards …. Other quality claims ………. EU Organic regulation = Food law  commercial brands ……….…. 3

old packaging material New labelling rules apply EU Organic regulation Transition period: Products labelled before 1/7/2010 to be sold until stocks exhausted End of transition old packaging material 1 July 2012 New labelling rules apply 1 July 2010 AB-CDE-999 EU/Non EU agriculture AB-CDE-999 EU/Non-EU agriculture 4

ORGANIC – IP protection The term “organic” protected If “organic” then EU organic logo: Compulsory on pre-packed goods Voluntary on imported products Not exclusive: National and private labels may be added EU organic logo – registered trademark EU and worldwide

BENEFITS For consumers: Uniform labelling Quality assurance Traceability Enhanced consumer protection For producers: Uniform standard for all operators Identity to the organic sector Facilitating controls Protected organic logo and names For society: strong bond between the rural and metropolitan sectors improve and maintain rural landscape Maintain quality standards For environment: Soil protection Diversity of plants and animals Animal welfare

The new EU Organic logo on products produced within the EU: - compulsory for organic pre-packaged food - voluntary for non pre-packaged organic food 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 imported products: - Its use is optional - Independent of import system applied - When used: Code number of Control Body Place of farming (Non-EU agriculture)

ISO code of the country where the controls took place FR-BIO-000 UE/non-UE Agriculture EU organic logo (the colour may differ) Code number of the Control body Indication of the place where the agricultural raw materials of which the product is composed have been farmed: ‘EU Agriculture/non-EU Agriculture’. ‘EU’ or ‘non-EU’ may be replaced or supplemented by a country in the case where all agricultural raw materials of which the product is composed have been farmed in that country. ISO code of the country where the controls took place Link with the organic production such as BIO, ECO, ÖKO, ORG… Reference number of maximum 3 digits Compulsory information

Code numbers of the EU control bodies Member States attribute a code number to each organic control body and authority they have approved to operate on their territory Code format: xxx BIO, ØKO, ÖKO, ECO, EKO, ORG depending on the MS Example: BE-BIO-01 CERTISYS

Code numbers of the TC control bodies On imported products, it is an obligation to mention the code number of the control body or authority independently if the EU organic logo is used or not Import regime AB-CDE-999 Number attributed Example Equivalent third countries ORG or BIO or ECO -0xx by the competent authority of the Third Country AR-BIO-001 Food Safety SA Instituto Argentino para la Certificación Control bodies for equivalency BIO-1xx BIO-2xx BIO-3xx by the Commission MX-BIO-104 CERTIMEX, Certificadora Mexicana De Productos Y Procesos Ecologicos, S.C. MS import authorisations BIO-6xx BIO-7xx BIO-8xx by the Member States MX-BIO-620

The new EU Organic logo cannot be used on: 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

Key factors for growth: Consumer awareness Lack of knowledge, misconceptions Clear agricultural policy direction Research and Innovation Alternatives and new techniques 13

Promotion and information

Web banner for Your website: available in 22 languages

Promotion campaigns: 2006-2009 creation of an “umbrella” campaign for organic farming, aimed at supporting the national campaigns in the European Union. July-December 2010 EU organic logo promotion campaign. National initiatives and co-financed programmes. Printemps Bio 2011 (co-financed by the EU) Ich will Bio (co-financed by the EU) Why I love organic? (co-financed by the EU)

UK: ‘There are lots reasons to love organic. What’s yours?’ www.whyiloveorganic.co.uk

Austria: Ich will Bio! www.bioinfo.at

Italy: BIO sotto la casa www.aiab.it

www.printempsbio.com France: Printemps Bio www.agencebio.org

Spreading rapidly and to be seen everywhere as from 1 July 2012…

Where to find more information: www.organic-farming.europa.eu Labelling rules Logo design (for download) User manual Questions and Answers Promotional material

Thank you for your attention! www.organic-farming.europa.eu