MIL-OSI Europe: Answer to a written question – Adapting organic crop production conditions – E-000557/2025(ASW)

The Commission has set out a comprehensive organic action plan for the EU[1]. Through it, the Commission will aim to achieve the European Green Deal target of 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030.

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on organic production and labelling of organic products[2] sets the rules and the criteria under which organic production can be maintained and further developed.

It also provides for a number of derogations that may be applied, such as the possibilities to derogate to the link to the soil to produce sprouted seeds[3], chicory heads[4], ornamentals plants and herbs in pots [5], or crops in demarcated beds[6]. Additional derogations may also apply in case of catastrophic circumstances[7].

The criteria and procedure to authorise or not the use of potassium phosphonates in organic viticulture as an active substance to be used as a plant protection product are laid down in Article 24 of the same Regulation. Germany submitted a dossier asking for the re-examination of this active substance that will be assessed by the Expert Group on Organic Production (EGTOP)[8] in March 2025.

Once the EGTOP recommendations are published, the re-examination of the potential authorisation of potassium phosphonates will be discussed with the Member States in the Organic Production Committee.

• [1] COM/2021/141 final/2.
• [2] 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 834/2007, OJ L 150, 14.6.2018, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/2024-12-01
• [3] Point 1.3 (a )of Annex II Part I of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
• [4] Point 1.3 (b )of Annex II Part I of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
• [5] Point 1.4 (a ) of Annex II Part I of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
• [6] Point 1.5 of Annex II Part I of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
• [7] Article 22 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.
• [8] https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/farming/organic-farming/cooperation-and-expert-advice_en