News
![Large share of EU funds available to promote sustainable agriculture in 2023](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
23/12/2022
Food policy
Large share of EU funds available to promote sustainable agriculture in 2023
On 16 December 2022, the European Commission has adopted the 2023 Annual Work Programme on the promotion of agricultural products.…
![GMOs – An easy breakdown on common myths](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
GMOs – An easy breakdown on common myths
Global grassroots organization Slow Food International has recently published a short myth-busting article with the most common, but wrong and…
![Member States call for ‘new impact assessment’ on the Pesticides Regulation (SUR), delaying strict EU pesticide regulation](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
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…
![EU pesticides regulation (SUR) under attacks from Member States & industry](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
16/12/2022
Plant health care
EU pesticides regulation (SUR) under attacks from Member States & industry
The EU Pesticide Reduction proposal SUR has been under attack by lobbyists. They developed a strategy to delay and possibly…
![Promoting recycled fertilizers in Europe: IFOAM Organics Europe position paper & outcomes policy workshop on closing the nutrients’ cycle](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/12/81443228-cf93-4a32-8d04-226c28da6f7b-420x540.jpg)
Promoting recycled fertilizers in Europe: IFOAM Organics Europe position paper & outcomes policy workshop on closing the nutrients’ cycle
On 28 February, IFOAM Organics Europe has published a new position paper on the Commission’s Integrated Nutrients Management Action Plan…
![November newsletter: SUR, GMO-free event, and more!](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/12/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-6-420x540.png)
November newsletter: SUR, GMO-free event, and more!
Two weeks ago, we published our November newsletter and it’s rich in updates and information on the hottest organic topics!…
![Bold pesticide reduction plan faces attack on Saturday](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
06/12/2022
Plant health care
Bold pesticide reduction plan faces attack on Saturday
BRUSSELS, 6 DECEMBER 2022 – EU plans to cut pesticide use and risk by half and protect the most sensitive…
![Commission proposal on the certification of carbon removals leaves crucial questions unanswered](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
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…
![Green claims: better methodologies to assess environmental performance of food & textiles products](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/pressrelease-1-420x540.png)
Green claims: better methodologies to assess environmental performance of food & textiles products
BRUSSELS, 29 NOVEMBER 2022 – IFOAM Organics Europe welcomes news about the Commission’s decision to postpone the publication of the…
![Press conference: EU pesticide reduction under fierce attack](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
Press conference: EU pesticide reduction under fierce attack
In June 2022, the EU Commission presented a legislative proposal on the “sustainable use of plant protection products” (SUR), which…
![Political Hotspot - November 2022](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/PoliticalHotspot-2-420x540.png)
24/11/2022
Plant health care
Political Hotspot - November 2022
The legislative process of revising the EU’s pesticide legislation, the Sustainable Use of Pesticides Regulation (SUR), is full of hurdles,…
![Welcome note November 2022](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/WelcomeNote-2-420x540.png)
Welcome note November 2022
Dear reader, I am happy to welcome you to this year’s last edition of our newsletter. I am proud to…
![1 million EU citizens knock on EU’s door: No synthetic pesticides to save bees & farmers](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2021/09/Save-the-Bees-420x512.png)
1 million EU citizens knock on EU’s door: No synthetic pesticides to save bees & farmers
Over 1 million EU citizens are asking to restore nature, provide healthy food, healthy soil and clean water. On Friday 25…
![‘Way forward in organic plant health care strategies’ Conference, 17-18 November 2022, online](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
‘Way forward in organic plant health care strategies’ Conference, 17-18 November 2022, online
On 17 & 18 November, IFOAM Organics Europe, BÖLW and JKI Institüte organised an online conference on the ‘Way forward…
![This was COP 27 for agriculture](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-4-420x540.png)
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…
![GMO-free Europe Event held at the European Parliament to take a stand discuss the European Commission's new NGT legislative proposal](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/policy_GMOs_event_GMO-free-regions_202210-3-420x540.png)
GMO-free Europe Event held at the European Parliament to take a stand discuss the European Commission's new NGT legislative proposal
The European Commission announced a new legislative proposal for so-called ‘Novel Genomic Techniques’ in the second quarter of 2023. This…
![Commission's fertiliser communication, short term fixes, no long-term solutions](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
09/11/2022
Plant health care
Commission's fertiliser communication, short term fixes, no long-term solutions
In its Communication on ensuring availability and affordability of fertilisers, the EU Commission postpones necessary changes to achieve more sustainable food systems by…
![Organic movement asks for higher environmental ambition in the upcoming Fertiliser Communication & digitalization of pesticide use data in SAIO’s implementing act](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_PlantHealthCare-420x540.jpg)
03/11/2022
Plant health care
Organic movement asks for higher environmental ambition in the upcoming Fertiliser Communication & digitalization of pesticide use data in SAIO’s implementing act
Upcoming Fertilizers Communication of the Commission On 24 October, we co-signed a joint letter with 9 NGOs calling on the…
![Sustainability labels, ”sustainable or not? That’s the question!”](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_sustainability_labelling-420x540.jpg)
Sustainability labels, ”sustainable or not? That’s the question!”
In the current food environment, labels are crucial to provide consumers with information to help them make the sustainable choice.…
![Changes in regulation on recognition of control authorities & bodies for the purpose of import of organic products into the EU](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/EURegulation-420x540.png)
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…
![Sustainability labelling for food: one day to understand all about it](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_sustainability_labelling-420x540.jpg)
Sustainability labelling for food: one day to understand all about it
The European Commission is expected to reveal their proposal for a Regulation on Substantiating Green Claims based on the Product…
![The scientists behind the GMO deregulation lobby – A story of vested interests](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
14/10/2022
GMOs
The scientists behind the GMO deregulation lobby – A story of vested interests
Many scientists currently active in agricultural biotechnology who lobby for deregulating so-called ‘new genomic techniques’ (NGTs) in the European Union…
![Add your signature – Support these EU-wide petitions to stop attempts to deregulate new GMOs](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
14/10/2022
GMOs
Add your signature – Support these EU-wide petitions to stop attempts to deregulate new GMOs
The European Commission is working on a new legislative proposal for ‘New Genomic Techniques’ (NGTs). We expect this to be…
![Save the Date: GMO-Free Europe Event 2022 - 17 November](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
Save the Date: GMO-Free Europe Event 2022 - 17 November
We invite you to join us for a GMO-free Europe event at the European Parliament to discuss the European Commission’s…
![Political Hotspot - September 2022](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/PoliticalHotspot-2-420x540.png)
29/09/2022
Food policy
Political Hotspot - September 2022
September is the month of the first informal meeting of the Ministers of Agriculture in Prague, Czech Republic. The Czech…
![New position paper on sustainability labelling & the Planet-score](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/10/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_sustainability_labelling-420x540.jpg)
29/09/2022
Labelling
New position paper on sustainability labelling & the Planet-score
IFOAM Organics Europe published its new position paper on “Sustainability labelling & the Planet-score”. Political context This position paper comes…
![Worrying step to deregulating GMOs: EU Agriculture Commissioner says “no controversy about direction” among EU Agricultural Ministers](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/09/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-1-420x540.png)
27/09/2022
GMOs
Worrying step to deregulating GMOs: EU Agriculture Commissioner says “no controversy about direction” among EU Agricultural Ministers
The recent Informal meeting of the EU Ministers of Agriculture set a worrying tone for the political agenda regarding Genetically…
![Updates on pesticides and recycled nutrients: Regulation (SUR), statistics and data](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/11/comm_website_THUMBNAILS_SUR-420x540.jpg)
Updates on pesticides and recycled nutrients: Regulation (SUR), statistics and data
IFOAM Organics Europe welcomed the Commission’s proposal on the revision of the Sustainable Use of pesticides Regulation (SUR). It could…
![June newsletter: measuring pesticides, new GMOs, and more!](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/06/comm_website_thumbnail_newsletter_june-420x540.jpg)
June newsletter: measuring pesticides, new GMOs, and more!
We just published our June newsletter and it’s rich in updates and information on the hottest organic topics! Not sure…
![IFOAM Organics Europe launches a guideline on the use of Flavourings in Organic Food](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/EURegulation-420x540.png)
28/06/2022
Organic regulations
IFOAM Organics Europe launches a guideline on the use of Flavourings in Organic Food
One of the new EU Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848’s novelties is the restriction of the use of natural flavourings in…
![Got pesticides in your body? It’s your last chance to find out](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/06/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-10-420x540.jpg)
28/06/2022
Plant health care
Got pesticides in your body? It’s your last chance to find out
Pesticides threaten our food and farming systems.They kill pollinators like bees, reduce the quality of soils, endanger the health of…
![Public consultation on new genomic techniques still ongoing + Member briefing](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/GMOs-1-420x540.png)
27/06/2022
GMOs
Public consultation on new genomic techniques still ongoing + Member briefing
The 12-weeks consultation period of the European Commission in the context of the Impact Assessment for new legislation for ‘New…
![Sustainability labelling & the PEF – Closed event in the European Parliament](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/02/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-3-420x540.png)
24/06/2022
Labelling
Sustainability labelling & the PEF – Closed event in the European Parliament
Green Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) Benoît Biteau, Claude Gruffat and Michèle Rivasi held an invitation-only event in the…
![Delving into public consultations: The sustainable food system framework initiative and the EU school scheme](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
23/06/2022
Food policy
Delving into public consultations: The sustainable food system framework initiative and the EU school scheme
July will be a hot month! In part because of deadlines to public consultations geared at transforming the European food…
![They make it happen! Green public procurement in Copenhagen’s public kitchens](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2021/10/vision-420x540.png)
They make it happen! Green public procurement in Copenhagen’s public kitchens
Organic contributes to promoting and delivering healthy and sustainable diets. This is part of our Vision 2030 set out and…
![Contribute to the Commission’s consultation on the future EU integrated nutrient management action plan (INMAP)](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/Water-soil-420x540.jpg)
20/06/2022
Plant health care
Contribute to the Commission’s consultation on the future EU integrated nutrient management action plan (INMAP)
The Commission is preparing an Integrated Nutrient Management Action Plan (INMAP) as announced in the EU Biodiversity and Farm to…
![European Parliament votes on climate 'Fit for 55’ package](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/03/comm_website_slideshow-TEMPLATE-1-420x540.jpg)
10/06/2022
Climate change
European Parliament votes on climate 'Fit for 55’ package
The European Parliament has adopted their position on the revision of the Land Use, Land Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF)…
![Environmental NGOs and organic movement call on Commission to develop a new indicator to measure progress towards the Farm to Fork pesticide reduction target](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/PR-420x540.png)
Environmental NGOs and organic movement call on Commission to develop a new indicator to measure progress towards the Farm to Fork pesticide reduction target
BRUSSELS, 9 JUNE 2022 – The organisers of the European Citizens’ Initiative Save Bees and Farmers (signed by 1.2 million…
![Do you have pesticides in your body? Join the pesticide check-up and find out](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/06/comm_website_THUMBNAILS-10-420x540.jpg)
09/06/2022
Plant health care
Do you have pesticides in your body? Join the pesticide check-up and find out
Pesticides are a serious threat to our food and farming systems. On the field, they kill pollinators like bees and…
![Agreement on agricultural statistics (SAIO)](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/OrganicInputs-2-420x540.png)
06/06/2022
Plant health care
Agreement on agricultural statistics (SAIO)
On Thursday 2 June, the Council of the EU and the European Parliament reached an agreement on the new EU…
![Alternatives to contentious input in organic - Heritage of RELACS project](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/01/download-2.jpg)
Alternatives to contentious input in organic - Heritage of RELACS project
The RELACS project developed and researched alternatives to contentious inputs in organic crop production – copper and mineral oils, nutrient…
![Parliament’s environment committee votes on climate regulation](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/05/lupin.jpg)
17/05/2022
Climate change
Parliament’s environment committee votes on climate regulation
This week, the European Parliament’s Environment (ENVI) Committee has voted on several pieces of legislation for the Fit for 55…
![Public consultation on the Sustainable Food System law: stakeholders invited to provide feedback!](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
16/05/2022
Food policy
Public consultation on the Sustainable Food System law: stakeholders invited to provide feedback!
On 28 April, the European Commission opened its public consultation for the sustainable food system framework initiative. All stakeholders, including…
![IFOAM Organics Europe’s roundtable on organic canteens gathers torchbearers for fruitful exchanges](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
IFOAM Organics Europe’s roundtable on organic canteens gathers torchbearers for fruitful exchanges
On 28 March, IFOAM Organics Europe organised a roundtable on organic canteens, bringing together relevant actors in the field to…
![Opening of a public consultation on EU school fruit, vegetables, and milk scheme](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
10/05/2022
Food policy
Opening of a public consultation on EU school fruit, vegetables, and milk scheme
On 5 May, the European Commission opened its public consultation for the revision of the EU school scheme, that supports…
![European Commission’s promotion policies: 157 projects submitted in 2022](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
06/05/2022
Food policy
European Commission’s promotion policies: 157 projects submitted in 2022
The European Commission has recently published the results of its call for tenders under the 2022 edition of the promotion…
![New IFOAM Organics Europe position paper on carbon farming is published](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/05/201706_Liveseed_17-420x540.jpg)
05/05/2022
Climate change
New IFOAM Organics Europe position paper on carbon farming is published
In our new position paper, we highlight the need for a holistic and multi-dimensional approach to carbon farming – focussing…
![European Parliament report on the organic action plan published](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/FoodPolicy-2-420x540.png)
04/05/2022
Food policy
European Parliament report on the organic action plan published
On 3 May, the European Parliament’s Plenary voted on its own initiative report on the Commission’s organic action plan (OAP).…
![Wrapping up the RELACS project: Policy roadmaps, videos & other publications](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2022/01/download-2.jpg)
Wrapping up the RELACS project: Policy roadmaps, videos & other publications
The RELACS project, which aims at finding alternatives to contentious inputs in organic farming, came to an end on 29…
![Commission opens public consultation on new legislation for new genetic engineering techniques](https://www.organicseurope.bio/content/uploads/2020/06/GMOs-1-420x540.png)
03/05/2022
GMOs
Commission opens public consultation on new legislation for new genetic engineering techniques
The EU Commission launched a 12-weeks consultation period in the context of the Impact Assessment for new legislation for ‘New…