madeinature.org » EUROPEAN ORGANIC FARMING

The first in the world to believe in organic farming

Europe was the first in the world to implement organic production standards as early as the 1980s, followed by the USA, Latin America and Asia. Since 1 July 2012, all organic products grown in the European Union must bear the EU organic logo, which clearly identifies “organic products” and makes it easier for consumers to identify them.

Organic farming chooses nature

The EU logo is mandatory for pre-packed organic products that are produced in Europe, whereas it is optional for bulk and imported products. The European trademark ensures safety for consumers and responds to the ever-increasing focus on certification and traceability.

European organic agriculture is an agricultural production method based on production principles and practices which, collectively, minimise human impact on the environment, ensuring products as natural as possible without using external chemical agents. This means:

Intensive crop rotation as a prerequisite for an efficient use of soil fertility.
Strict limitations to the use of synthetic chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilisers, food additives and processing aids.
Total ban on the use of genetically modified organisms.
Use of natural, animal-derived fertilisers for manuring.
Use of advanced biological pest control techniques to protect plants from pathogenic insects and fungal diseases.
Use of plant varieties that are more resistant to disease and, therefore, less subject to phytosanitary treatments.
Focus on plant biodiversity and on the cultivation of species that have adapted perfectly to the cultivation area.
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Eating healthily while respecting our planet

Organic production methods are aimed at respecting the environment as much as possible through strict rules and regulations in order to achieve the following goals:

The responsible use of energy and natural resources.
The maintenance of biodiversity and preservation of regional ecological balances.
Enhancement of soil fertility.
Maintenance of water quality.
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Organic processing companies and, more broadly, marketers and food distributors, pursue the same goals as organic farmers, providing fresh and genuine food that is developed and processed in a way that respects nature and its ecosystems.

European regulations

European organic farming is governed by Council Regulation (EC) No. 834/2007, which defines the principles, goals and general rules of European organic production and defines labelling rules for organic products. The European Commission (EC) Regulation No. 889 of 5 September 2008 implemented the regulation laying down detailed rules with regard to organic production, labelling and control. On 19 April 2018, the European Parliament approved the new proposal for an EC Regulation on organic farming, which will repeal the current standards from 2021.

In order to identify an organic fruit and vegetable product with certainty, whether it is fresh, processed or packaged, you need to look at the label that contains all the mandatory information. Organic labelling ensures compliance with organic production standards for consumers, certified in accordance with Regulation EC No. 834/2007.

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