Explanatory note

These Regulations amend Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products with regard to organic production, labelling and control (EUR 2008/889). They specify exemptions to organic production rules.

Regulation 2(2) of this instrument amends Article 42(b) of Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 so as to provide that until 31st December 2025, non-organically reared pullets of not more than 18 weeks may be introduced into an organic flock for egg production when organically reared pullets are not available, subject to conditions.

Regulation 2(3) amends Article 43 of Regulation (EC) No 889/2008 so as to provide that, where farmers are unable to obtain protein feed for porcine and poultry species exclusively from organic production, up to 5% of non-organic protein feed may be used in each period of 12 months for the additional calendar years 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Regulation 2(4) amends the table in Section A of Annex 8 of Regulation (EC) No 889/2008, which lists food additives which may be used in the processing of organic food, subject to conditions and restrictions. It amends the entry relating to E 418, gellan gum, to provide that from 1st January 2026 only organically produced gum, in its high acyl form, may be used in processing organic food.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as no, or no significant, impact on the private, voluntary or public sector is foreseen.