Organic production and labelling of organic products

2008/0097(CNS)

PURPOSE: to postpone the compulsory use of the EU logo on labelling of organic products for the time needed to create the new Community logo.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Regulation (EC) No 967/2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products.

CONTENT: Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 has introduced rules for compulsory indications to be used on organic products, which, from 1 January 2009, includes the use of the Community logo on pre-packaged food.

It is important for the perception of consumers to ensure an informative labelling with a distinctive and appealing Community logo, which symbolises organic production and clearly identifies the products. The design of such a Community logo requires a certain time period to be developed and to be made known to the public.

Therefore, the purpose of the Regulation is to postpone until 1 July 2010 the compulsory use of the EU logo provided for in the Regulation. However, operators may  use, on a voluntary basis, the current logo defined in Annex V to Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, until the creation of the new EU logo.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 10/10/2008.