New 'Euro-Leaf' organic labelling rules come into force

The so-called "Euro-Leaf" will now be obligatory on pre-packaged organic food products that have been produced in any of EU Member States and meet the necessary standards.

Other private, regional or national logos will continue to appear alongside the EU label. The logo stays optional for non-packed and imported organic products. In addition to the logo, the new labeling rules also include the compulsory indications of place of farming of the products' ingredients and code number of the body that had been in charge of the controls. Operators have a two-year transition period to comply with these new labeling rules. Another change is the introduction of EU rules for organic aquaculture for the first time. The new rules cover organic farming of fish, shellfish and seaweed.

"Our hope is that the new EU logo can develop into a widely recognised symbol of organic food production across the EU, providing consumers with confidence that the goods are produced entirely in-line with the strict EU organic farming regulations," said EU Commissioner for Agriculture & Rural Development Dacian Ciolo?