Blogs

Organic agriculture in the Netherlands can play an important role in the transition to a sustainable and future-proof agriculture. In this action plan the central government of the Netherlands, set out the ambition to substantially increase organic production and consumption. The actions are a starting point to work together with chain parties.

Skal, the regulator of the organic chain in the Netherlands, has published an information sheet on irradiation. 

We encounter it quite often that traders in foodstuffs are not aware of the extensive food safety rules that apply to them. ‘We are not a producer’, ‘We don’t come in contact with the foodstuffs’ or ‘We are merely traders’. However, certain obligations apply to all food business operators. As the contractual and public law risks from non-compliance and incidents are great, and the Dutch authorities are focusing more and more on these ‘middlemen’, it is time to, in addition to the organic food safety rules, provide an overview of the most important food safety rules for traders in foodstuffs.

The Food & Agri journal interviewed Van Traa’s international trade lawyers Marc van Maanen and Thomas Giesbertz on the topic of decertification of batches of organic raw materials, and the major consequences it can hold for both sellers and buyers. In the interview the lawyers elaborate on this topic and the ways in which companies could anticipate this risk.

The International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFAOM) has drafted a guideline to the new Organic Regulation, as a means to offer an overview through the jungle of the new Organic Regulation and over 20 delegated and implementing rules. The guide is accessible to IFOAM Organics Europe members, through the IFOAM newsletter.

On 1 January 2022, the New Organic Regulation (EU)2018/848 ('New Organic Regulation') entered into force. This regulation replaces the existing European Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008 and, from this moment on, contains the main rules for the production, processing, trade and labelling of organic products in the European Union ('EU'). But it also contains an interesting new ‘duty of care’. Does this new duty of care lead to changes in your business operations?

On January 1, 2022, the new Organic Regulation entered force. This regulation replaces the existing European Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008 and from that moment on contains the main rules for the production, processing, trade and labelling of organic products in the European Union ("EU").

As of 1 January 2022, the new regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products will enter into force ("the new organic regulation"). This is the reason for a column about the rules that will apply to organic products. In the coming months, each column will deal with a different subject: from labelling to supervision & enforcement, from conversion products to animal feed. What about the EU policy behind this regulation? Greendeal, Farm2Fork? How does it all relate? Read it here.

The Netherlands are top 10 ranked when it comes to market size and per capita spending on organic foodstuffs. Import has grown with 10% and trade with 5% in 2019. The amount of companies registered under the European Regulation 834/2007 – which deals with organic production and labelling – has topped 5,000 already. Growing demand and higher purchase prizes are, however, attracting illegitimate parties as well: in 2019, fraud with organic foodstuffs has been all over the national media and even led to parliamentary questions.

On January 1, 2022, the new Organic Regulation will enter into force. This regulation replaces the existing European Regulations 834/2007 and 889/2008 and from that moment on contains the main rules for the production, processing, trade and labeling of organic products in the European Union ("EU").

In addition to the general labeling rules that exist for all food products, additional rules apply to labeling of organic products and raw materials based on the new Bio Regulation. The rules on the mandatory and optional use of the Bio logo and designation "organic" are not new. It was and still is prohibited to advertise a product as organic, if the product does not comply with the European rules. But the labeling rules are being clarified with the entry into force of the new Organic Regulation.

In addition to the general labelling rules that apply to all foodstuffs, the new organic regulation provides for additional labelling rules for organic products and raw materials. The rules on the mandatory and optional use of the organic logo and designation "organic" are discussed in separate blogs. Below are the rules for mandatory labelling.

The use of the organic logo is separate from the use of the term 'organic'. If the Bio-logo can be used, it is allowed to be called "organic", but there are products that are allowed to be called "organic" but do not have the Bio-logo.