Requirements for the production of organic products are closer to European standards

The requirements for the production, labeling, and circulation of organic products have been regulated, and the basic principles for the certification of organic production with details by industry (organic crop production, livestock, mushroom cultivation, aquaculture, feed production, food, seaweed) have been established.

The corresponding Law No. 2496-VІІІ “On Basic Principles and Requirements for Organic Production, Handling and Labeling of Organic Products” came into force on August 2 and will be put into effect one year from now, but since August 2, the Cabinet of Ministers has had to take measures to bring regulatory and legal acts in accordance with the Law. In particular, to ensure the functioning of registries of operators, certification bodies, organic seeds and planting stock, as well as the list of foreign certification bodies at the time of enactment of the Law.

The manufacturer of organic products must use safe technologies, renewable resources and clean water.

In the process of organic production, any unnatural or uncontrolled influence on the genome of agricultural plants and animals, agrochemicals, pesticides, antibiotics, hormonal preparations, methods of electrical or other stimulation, ionizing radiation, growth stimulants are prohibited.

Producers of organic products will have to be certified (with mandatory annual field visits). Such enterprises are included in the register of operators of the organic products market. Authorities for certification of organic production will receive accredited certification bodies.

The product may be labeled as organic only if it:

(a) produced in accordance with the requirements of the legislation in the field of organic production, circulation, and labeling of organic products;

(b) contains not less than 95% of organic ingredients of agricultural origin (by weight excluding the proportion of water and table salt);

(c) contains no more than 5% (by weight) of inorganic ingredients included in the list of substances (ingredients, components) that are allowed to be used in the process of organic production in the maximum permissible quantities.

Organic products must be marked with a state logo. An obligatory element of marking is the code number, which is placed under the state logo and contains an acronym identifying the state of origin, the inscription “organic” and the registration code of the certification body.

Advertising of any inorganic product as organic, including the use of the inscription “organic product” in names and trademarks, is considered unfair advertising.

The sale of organic products is allowed by any business entities only if there is a corresponding certificate.

When moving from non-organic to organic production (transition), the operator must comply with the requirements of the legislation in the field of organic production. Operators are prohibited from selling products produced during the transition period as organic.

The new Law does not apply to the production and turnover of products intended for own consumption, perfume and cosmetics products and medicines, hunting and fishing products withdrawn from the natural environment.