Answer to a written question – Organic Regulation’s run provisions – E-001177/2025(ASW)

As stated in the Commission’s Communication ‘A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations’[1], continuous support for organic farming remains essential for the Commission.

Organic farming is a voluntary scheme[2] based on precise legal standards set in Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products[3] and its associated secondary legislation. Organic farming has been increasingly successful over the last decade as EU consumers choose to support a model that is based on ambitious environmental and animal welfare rules.

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 generally requires poultry to have access to open air areas and herbivores to have access to pastures and provides only time-limited exemptions to these requirements related in particular to weather conditions, state of the grounds or animal health diseases[4].

• [1] COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS A Vision for Agriculture and Food Shaping together an attractive farming and agri-food sector for future generations, Brussels, 19.2.2025 COM(2025) 75 final.
• [2] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/organic-farming_en
• [3] Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2008, OJ L 150 14.6.2018, p. 1.
  ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/2024-12-01
• [4] Frequently asked questions ON ORGANIC RULES , replies to questions 12 and 14.
  https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/document/download/e5b18da2-e7a7-4535-8425-db81ebe7e5ba_en