Council and Parliament agree on updated rules for organic farming in the EU

The Irish presidency of the Council of the European Union have reached a provisional agreement on updated rules for the production, labelling, certification and trade of organic products in the European Union, according to a press release by the Council of the EU. Announced on October 20, 2026, the deal aims to support the competitiveness of the EU’s organic sector while maintaining high standards and consumer trust. The targeted revision will make existing rules clearer and easier to apply. It will reduce administrative burdens for farmers and businesses, particularly smaller operators, and provide greater legal certainty for imports. It also seeks to ensure continuity in international trade while preserving the integrity of the EU organic label.

Organic farming plays an important role in the EU’s transition towards more sustainable food systems. According to the European Commission, the area of organic farmland has grown by 79%, from 9.5 million to 16.9 million hectares. The EU framework for organic production is established by regulation (EU) 2018/848, which has been in force since January 2022. The revision agreed is part of the Commission’s roadmap “Organic rulebook fit for the future.” It followed a judgment by the Court of Justice of 4 October 2024, which stated that imported products recognised under equivalence arrangements cannot use the EU organic logo.

Main elements of the agreement

The agreement raises the annual turnover threshold for the certification exemption from €20,000 to €40,000 per year, calculated as the annual average over the previous five years. The annual sales volume threshold will also rise from 5,000 kg to 10,000 kg. The exemption will be extended, under certain conditions, to small online retailers selling pre-packed organic products. Imported products from non-EU countries whose rules are recognised as equivalent to EU standards can continue to be marketed using terms such as “organic” and may use the organic logo of their country of origin. They would also be able to use the EU organic logo only if they comply with additional production and monitoring requirements.

The organic rules applied by 11 non-EU countries, including Argentina, Canada, New Zealand and the United States, are currently recognised as equivalent to EU standards, and the agreement extends this recognition from 31 December 2026 until 31 December 2036. The Council and Parliament agreed to remove the Commission’s proposal to allow the EU organic label on products containing less than 5% of ingredients from non-EU countries not meeting additional criteria. Temporary flexibility is provided for the use of non-organic protein feed for poultry and pigs, as well as for aquaculture juveniles, to be phased out gradually. Martin Heydon, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine of Ireland, said,

“Today, the Irish Presidency has delivered a strong result for farmers, consumers and the agri-food sector.”

He added that the deal demonstrates a commitment to sustainable agriculture across the EU.

Next steps

The provisional agreement must now be endorsed by the Council and the Parliament. Following legal-linguistic revision, the regulation will be formally adopted by both institutions. The aim is to complete its adoption before the end of 2026, when the current recognition arrangements for imported organic products are due to expire. Products already labelled under the existing rules may continue to be sold until stocks are exhausted. Transitional arrangements will also ensure continuity and legal certainty for imported organic products and international trade as the new rules take effect.