The European Commission launched a public consultation aimed at all citizens interested in organic production in Europe. The consultation will cover possible simplifications to be brought to the existing scheme, while maintaining high standards, as well as the issues of control and international trade.

The public consultation launched by the European Commission about organic production in Europe will feed the reflexion on a new framework regulation, as called for by the Commission in its report of May 2012 on the implementation of the current regulation. The Commission highlighted that after having consulted and worked together with stakeholders in the organic sector to identify issues at stake for the future, the Commission is now turning to citizens. The contributions can be made before 15 April 2013. From 1 of July 2012, organic food has to include the EU organic logo from in their labels.

In particular, the consultation will cover possible simplifications to be brought to the existing scheme, while maintaining high standards, as well as the issues of control and international trade. Dacian Ciolos, European Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, stressed that the open consultation is a great opportunity for European citizens to be involved in preparing the future of European organic agriculture.

European organic production rules cover the whole production chain from farm to fork. Operators respecting these rules have the right to label their products "organic" and to put the European green leaf logo on the packaging. Once all the aspects have been addressed and examined closely, the European Commission will be in a position to elaborate proposals for a renewed political and legal framework for organic agriculture in Europe, to be proposed by the Commission around the end of 2013.