The EU reduces the minimum number of organic ingredients in organic pet food to 95%

This Monday, the Twenty-seven gave the final green light to the reduction of the minimum requirement for organic ingredients in pet food and feed, which is reduced from 100% to 95%, so that they can obtain the ecological label, in line with the standards. which also apply to products intended for human consumption. The text, which was already provisionally agreed in June by the negotiators of the Council and the European Parliament, was endorsed by the plenary session of Parliament on September 12 and now that it has been adopted by the Twenty-seven, it will come into force three days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU. However, after its publication, producers of organic food for pets will be guaranteed a transition time of six months to adapt their labeling to the new regulations. In addition, to ensure the stability of producers, organic pet foods that have been labeled in accordance with national standards or in accordance with private standards between January 1, 2022 and the effective date of the regulation can still be Sell ​​until stocks last. “With these new and updated rules, it will be easier for pet owners to purchase organic food for their pets. At the same time, the regulation will make it easier for producers to enter the organic pet food market and improve safety for consumers of the EU,” said the acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Luis Planas, within the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council. The aim of the new legislation is to make it easier for EU consumers to purchase organic food for their pets, since by eliminating the need for 100% of agricultural ingredients to be certified organic, the new rules overcome a barrier for organic production, making it more feasible for feed producers to meet the requirements for organic labeling. This means that more producers will be able to enter the organic market, increasing the availability of organic pet food and contributing to the EU’s organic farming goals. This resolves a problem that has existed since early 2022, when new EU-wide criteria came into force requiring agricultural ingredients in processed animal feed to be 100% organic to obtain the eco-label. This requirement was impossible for many pet food producers to meet due to the lack of availability of appropriate organic ingredients. Thus, the regulation aligns the standards for organic pet foods with those for foods produced for human consumption, which also set the minimum level for organic agricultural ingredients at 95%.