News
September 2024 newsletter - embracing productive months ahead
We just published our post-summer newsletter edition. Wondering what’s in it for you? Here are a few highlights you might…
17/09/2024
Organic regulations
Regulation updates: De-alcoholised wine, use organic logo, certificates, compliance & aquaculture
Following the summer break, there are a number of updates on the EU Organic Regulation. From new legal initiatives to…
Organic living labs develop and test food security & resilience scenarios
Helping to create and support “living labs” (LLs) is an important strategy within EU research and innovation to promote the…
20/08/2024
Organic regulations
New project will benefit organic operators & contribute to fairer EU Organic Regulation
In June 2024, we kicked off an exciting two-year project that will produce important information for most organic operators! Our…
The EU has continent-wide Nature Restoration Law
Today, the Nature Restoration Law entered into force. The law’s objective is the long-term recovery of nature in the EU’s…
EU Organic Regulation updates: FAQ on organic rules & second list of compliant control bodies
The Commission has updated its Frequently asked questions on organic rules with new topics. It now also clarifies questions on:…
Welcome back, Ms von der Leyen. EU organic looks forward to continue transforming our rural areas & food systems
BRUSSELS, 18 JULY 2024 – The European organic movement congratulates Ursula von der Leyen on her re-election as President of…
08/07/2024
Organic regulations
Pesticide residue management in organic products
Our food supply includes conventional agricultural systems using synthetic pesticides and other agrochemical products. As our agricultural systems are open…
CDG meeting on organic farming: Agroforestry, plant protection & compliance
Organic stakeholders exchanged with the Commission on synergies between agroforestry and organic, plant protection products and the regulatory switch from…
Fruitful discussion during LiveSeeding online webinar on organic seed and planting material databases
On 4 July 2024, the LiveSeeding project organised a learning exchange on organic seed databases, using examples from Spain and…
01/07/2024
Organic regulations
First list of control bodies recognised for compliance published
The first list of control bodies (CBs) recognised for compliance regarding imports from third countries was published in the EU’s…
Positive steps for EU’s resilience in Council decisions on nature restoration, soil monitoring law & green claims
On 17 June, European legislation on soil, nature, and environmental labelling took a few steps forward as the Council of…
Read our June newsletter! Here's what you can expect.
We just published our latest newsletter, the last one before the European elections and the summer break. Wondering what’s in…
Political Hotspot June 2024
Ongoing farmers’ protests highlight the need to address concerns about unfair pricing and competition in European agriculture. The objectives laid…
New genomic techniques, what comes up?
Despite significant political pressure to reach an agreement among the EU institutions before the European elections in June 2024, the…
30/05/2024
Organic regulations
Civil dialogue group about plant protection products & imports
On 24 May, the European Commission held a Civil Dialogue Group (CDG) on organic farming. While the many stakeholder present…
08/05/2024
Fairness & transparency
Commission's proposed measures on unfair trading practices
In April 2024, the European Commission unveiled its non-paper Position of farmers in the food supply chain: next steps. In…
02/05/2024
Seeds
Plant Reproductive Material Regulation legislation could advance organic plant breeding
On 24 April, the European Parliament voted on the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM) legislation. Members of the European Parliament…
Organic movement meets Commission President Ursula von der Leyen
On 26 April, IFOAM Organics Europe met with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for a discussion on the…
24/04/2024
Seeds
EU Parliament advances organic plant breeding with new PRM legislation vote
BRUSSELS, 24 APRIL 2024 – Today’s vote on the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM) legislation could contribute to a balanced regulation…
Proposal integrated Plant Reproductive Material Regulation improves after Parliament’s inputs
The EU is revising legislation on plant reproductive material, such as seeds, cuttings, trees, roots, tubers, and clones. Currently, rules…
19/03/2024
Seeds
IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes AGRI Committee vote on Plant Reproductive Material
BRUSSELS, 19 MARCH 2024 – The European organic movement considers today’s vote on the Plant Reproductive Material Regulation (PRM) legislation an…
14/03/2024
Organic regulations
Insights in international trade for EU and third country operators
On Monday 11 March, the European Organic Certifiers Council (EOCC) and IFOAM Organics Europe united experts providing insights into two…
OrganicAdviceNetwork project, the first Europe-wide network for organic advisors, starting soon!
As the EU Farm-to-Fork Strategy aims to achieve 25% of organic farmland in the EU by 2030, new organic farmers…
New faces and new projects in the Research & Innovation Unit
A new year means new research and innovation (R&I) projects! Several new Horizon Europe projects in which IFOAM Organics Europe…
02/02/2024
Organic regulations
Statement of support for Spanish organic producers in their denunciation of a French politician's statement seeking to pit organic farmers from different countries against one another
IFOAM Organics Europe fully supports Spanish organic producers in their denounciation of a French politician’s statement seeking to pit organic…
Entrepreneurship in the organic seeds and breeding sector
Are you an organic farmers or SME managers who is involved in: Join the webinar “Entrepreneurship in the organic seeds…
New digital tool for breeders, seed producers & traders
LiveSeeding is an EU-funded project promoting growth of organic seed and plant breeding to transition to more sustainable food systems.…
07/12/2023
Organic regulations
Continuation organic equivalency confirmed by UK and the EU & new regulations interpretation published
The UK-EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement that entered into force on 1 May 2021 contains provisions on the necessary reassessment…
05/12/2023
Seeds
Parliamentary committees have started work on proposed Plant Reproductive Material regulation
The AGRI and ENVI parliamentary committees have started their work on the proposed Plant Reproductive Material (PRM) regulation, a file…
28/11/2023
Climate change
Parliament votes on Carbon Removal Certification Framework: Cautious welcome
The European Parliament’s Plenary has voted on their position on the Carbon Removal Certification Framework (CRCF). IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes…
Agreement on nature restoration law: Important signal to transform farming
Negotiators from the European Parliament and Council reached a final agreement on the Nature Restoration Law (NRL). As European organic…
Six-fold increase in organic seeds needed in the next ten years in Europe – 2nd European Organic Seed Policy Conference shows pathways to make organic seeds a reality
The Spanish Presidency of the European Union put a spotlight on rural areas and agricultural resilience during a High-level Rural…
Political hotspot
The EU’s State of the Union (SOTEU), a moment during which the Commission President reflects upon past achievements and lays…
19/09/2023
Organic regulations
Regulatory update after Summer
During the past months, the Commission published updates related to the EU Organic Regulation. In this article, we summarise them.…
IFOAM Organics Europe at SANA exhibition - 7-8 September 2023, Bologna, Italy
On 7-8 September, IFOAM Organics Europe’s Director Eduardo Cuoco was present at the 35th International exhibition of organic and natural…
07/09/2023
Climate change
European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee focusses on monetisation of carbon credits
Members of the European Parliament’s Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development (COMAGRI) voted on their opinion on carbon farming in…
Registrations open for the Organic Seed Policy Conference to be held in Poland
In the context of the LiveSeeding project, where IFOAM Organics Europe is a partner, a public Organic Seed Policy Conference…
26/05/2023
Climate change
Council and Parliament are advancing on their positions on the Industrial Emissions Directive
The European Parliament’s Committees on Environment and Agriculture have voted on their reports on the revision of the EU Industrial…
A recap of the Organic Food Conference by BEING Organic in EU
IFOAM Organics Europe was happy to continue promoting the BEING ORGANIC in EU project objectives through the organisation of the…
Exploring the future of organic agriculture: Highlights from day 1 of the Organic Food Conference
The Organic Food Conference took place on 22-23 May at Aboca’s premises in Sansepolcro, Tuscany (IT), and its first day…
22/05/2023
Organic regulations
New position paper on the management of pesticide residues in organic products
We are glad to announce that IFOAM Organics Europe releases today a new position paper on the Management of Pesticide…
ECO-READY: Developing a European Observatory for short and long-term food and agriculture resilience strategies
The ECO-READY project aspires to identify climate-change drivers affecting food security and biodiversity across Europe. The comprehensive understanding of the EU…
Attend the Organic Food Conference in Tuscany, Italy
Would you like to enjoy great Italian organic food while discussing organic? Don’t miss out on our Organic Food Conference Events,…
The multiple benefits of organic for climate and biodiversity – visualised in our new infographic
The systemic approach of organic farming contributes to climate mitigation, supports the adaptation of farmers to the consequences of climate…
20/02/2023
Climate change
IFOAM Organics Europe at carbon farming panel discussion
IFOAM Organics Europe has been invited to participate to the event “Carbon farming – New potential for farmers or Greenwashing?”.…
Member States call for ‘new impact assessment’ on the Pesticides Regulation (SUR), delaying strict EU pesticide regulation
On 19 December, Member States1 voted in favour of requesting complementary data to the existing impact assessment the Commission carried…
30/11/2022
Climate change
Commission proposal on the certification of carbon removals leaves crucial questions unanswered
BRUSSELS, 30 NOVEMBER 2022 – The Commission’s proposal on the certification of carbon removals touches on important aspects like the…
22/11/2022
Climate change
This was COP 27 for agriculture
From 6-18 November the COP27 took place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt. Like every year, our colleagues from IFOAM – Organics…
28/10/2022
Organic regulations
Changes in regulation on recognition of control authorities & bodies for the purpose of import of organic products into the EU
While the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848 has been in force since the start of the year, implementing regulation that specify…