Organic farming outside the EU - equivalence requirements

This Regulation lays down the principles and rules on organic production, the related certification and the use of indications referring to organic production in labelling and advertising. It shall apply to such products originating from agriculture, including aquaculture and beekeeping, where such products are produced or intended to be produced, prepared, labelled, distributed, placed on the market, imported or exported from the European Union.

Organic production should achieve the following general objectives:

• contribute to environmental and climate protection
• maintaining long-term soil fertility;
• promote a high level of biodiversity
• contribute significantly to a non-toxic environment;
• promote high standards of animal welfare and, in particular, meet species-specific behavioural needs;
• promoting short distribution channels and local production in different areas of the Union;
• Promoting the conservation of rare and indigenous varieties threatened with extinction;
• Promoting the development of the supply of plant genetic material adapted to the specific needs and objectives of organic farming;
• Promote a high level of biodiversity, in particular through the use of diverse plant genetic material, such as organic heterogeneous material and organic varieties suitable for organic production;
• Promoting the development of organic crop production activities in order to contribute to a favourable economic outlook for the organic sector.