The EU action plan to reform organic farming

The EU action plan to reform organic farming


Food/Health Way of consumption

Last March, the European Commission adopted a new action plan for organic farming, with the main components being reinforced traceability and the opening of the market to small producers.

Over the last 10 years, the organic farming sector has multiplied its market by four in the European Union, leading the European Commission to consult experts, stakeholders and consumers (45,000 participants) with the aim of improving organic production in a "quantitative and qualitative" way. In its 2020 action plan, published last March, it summarises these reflections and the market's evolution since 1991, and attempts to propose new measures to meet the expectations of professionals and consumers.  

"The European system of organic farming and organic production monitoring was created in 1991 for a niche market, characterised by a small number of consumers and producers. The recent changes in the supply and demand situations indicate that it is time to adapt and improve the Union system for organic food and farming. The public consultation shows that European consumers want high standards for organic agricultural production and controls"


Graphs published by the institution show that the area under organic farming went from 5.6 million hectares per year in 2002 to 9.6 million hectares in 2011. However, this only represents 5.4% of the total utilised agricultural area in Europe. Dacian Ciolos, European commissioner for agriculture and sustainable development, notes that the sector's turnover reaches "nearly 20 billion euros per year".

Stimulate the development of organic farming

The development of this market is through stakeholders, with whom the European Union wants to have a relationship of confidence, by improving communication on the applicable rules for organic farming, decisions taken at European and national level, as well as "initiatives in rural development and European agricultural policy to stimulate organic farming". This concerns the producers, transformers, distributors and retailers. 

In a communiqué, the Commission also states that it wants to "simplify legislation to reduce administrative costs for farmers and (...) improve transparency", with group certification. This last point should be reinforced by the creation of an electronic certification system for the internal market and for imports. Mechanisms will also be implemented for exports outside of EU countries. 

On the consumer side, the institution aims to improve communication on products from organic farming and the production circuit. Its main aim is to create a climate of confidence for Europeans, by communicating on the European organic farming label, its logo and quality controls. These controls will be more numerous and drastic to avoid fraud with quality labels.  The Commission also wants to "encourage the consumption of products from organic farming, for example, in schools", or in hospitals, by modifying existing legislation that hinders this development before 2015. 

Measures contested by some cooperatives

The rules adopted by the European Parliament in parallel with the Commission action plan aim, in particular, to prohibit mixed production, in other words the mix between organic and traditional production on a same farm.

* Illustration from the European Commission website

News written by the team of The-shops.co.uk The-Shops.co.uk

News in the same category

Michel et Augustin move into ice cream with The Frosty Cow

Michel et Augustin move into ice cream with The Frosty Cow

The French brand, Michel et Augustin, has just announced the launch of ice cream pots from April in Monoprix stores. "La vache givrée" will be available in two flavours: Incroyable noisettes and Incroyable vanille de Madagascar.

  • Food/Health
  • New Products
Waitrose: have a discount on the items you choose

Waitrose: have a discount on the items you choose

Having discounts when grocery shopping is already great, but what if you could choose the discounted items yourself? Thanks to Waitrose, it's possible and it's a huge success.

  • Shop
  • Way of consumption
McDonalds to Only use Paper Straws from now on

McDonalds to Only use Paper Straws from now on

McDonalds has announced it is set to replace its plastic straws with environmentally friendly paper straws in all of its stores within the UK and Ireland.

  • Food/Health
  • Way of consumption
Tesco food counters are closing in 90 stores

Tesco food counters are closing in 90 stores

Tesco has announced that they will be closing food counters in 90 of their stores across the nation.

  • Food/Health
The EU action plan to reform organic farming