Organic regulations provide a clear structure for the production of organic products and help to communicate the commitment of producers to consumers. These regulations dictate production standards for organic certification and are governed at different levels; the European Union and national level. Organic farmers, processors and traders must be registered and certified with a control agency. These control agencies can be public or private bodies and verify organic standards are followed.

The organic conversion period ranges from 1-3 years, depending on the organic product. During this time, yields decrease, but producers do not yet capture the premium price for their products. Once the conversion period has passed organic farms, processing and trading companies are subject to random inspections, at least once a year. Therefore, transitioning to organic production and certification requires careful planning, record-keeping and commitment.

Here you find tools related to the conversion phase and certification of your farm as organic, certification schemes, as well as organic regulations and standards.