Organic certification focuses on confirming the organic production of the ingredients in your product, including that they avoid chemical treatments and genetically modified organisms. By getting certified, you can build trust with your customers, assuring them of the accuracy of your claims and the quality of your products. This in turn brings repeat business and strengthens your reputation.

Focus

Any company that produces organically processed or unprocessed agricultural or organic seed, or that processes organic agricultural products as food or feed, must be certified to sell the products in the EU.

What you need to know

The market for organic produce is growing continuously, and consumers are increasingly demanding organic raw produce and processed goods. To take advantage of this boom in the European market, you need to ensure your products are labelled organic – certification against the European Organic Regulations lets you do this.

Organic products are those produced in a way that avoids synthetic chemicals like fertilizers and pesticides, don’t contain genetically modified seed and have been grown on land that’s free from chemicals. Proving the organic status of a product requires detailed records and on-site inspections.

Getting certified with Kiwa

Worth about €27 billion, the European organic market has grown by 125 percent in the last decade. This provides an exciting opportunity for companies in the food sector, but to take advantage of that, you need to be certified to sell your products in the EU.

Kiwa is one of the pioneers of the organic movement in Europe, and carries out inspections and certifications in all areas of organic production, for farmers, processors, packagers, importers, exporters and warehouses. By partnering with Kiwa, you can certify your organic products and use the Euro Leaf label, access the European market and show your customers your commitment to sustainability and quality.


In 2017, the European Organic Regulations were updated to reflect changes in the rapidly-growing global organic market; these updates are expected to come into force in 2021. The new regulations will cover products like salt, cork and essential oils, and apply to seeds and processed agricultural products used as food and feed. The regulations will also apply to organic products made outside the EU and imported.

USPs/benefits

  • Boost your profits – by giving you access to new markets and helping you meet customers’ demands, European organic certification can help boost your business – and the bottom line
  • Meet customers’ needs – customers are increasingly demanding organic produce; you can show them your credentials with the Euro Leaf label
  • Improve competitiveness – European organic certification helps you enter the European market and forge new partnerships
  • Reduce pesticide risk – organic certification protects against the risk of pesticide contamination in your products
  • Demonstrate your commitment to quality – certification shows customers, partners and employees your products meet the requires quality standards
  • Contribute to sustainability – show your support for global goals on climate change, biodiversity and environmental protection
  • Support farmers in your supply chain – EU organic certification creates a level playing field for farmers, including those from non-EU countries who export to the EU