how can we help you?
Contact us at the A CERT office nearest to you or submit a business inquiry online.
Having values, we offer strictly professional services and through the recognition and reputation of the A CERT, our associated companies and structures and strategic collaborators, we add value to the products, services, institutes and organizations giving them a competitive advantage and making them capable of achieving a dominant position in national and international level.
how can we help you?
Contact us at the A CERT office nearest to you or submit a business inquiry online.
Having values, we offer strictly professional services and through the recognition and reputation of the A CERT, our associated companies and structures and strategic collaborators, we add value to the products, services, institutes and organizations giving them a competitive advantage and making them capable of achieving a dominant position in national and international level.
Reg. 848/2018
(Greece)
Regulation (EC) 848/2018 represents a significant step in the evolution of organic agriculture within the European Union, including Greece. This comprehensive regulation, which replaces the previous Regulation (EC) 834/2007, seeks to strengthen the organic sector by standardizing practices across all member states, enhancing the integrity of European organic products, and boosting consumer confidence.
Regulation (EC) 848/2018 and Its Applicative Regulations in Greece
The regulation focuses on various aspects of organic production, from crop and livestock farming to the processing of organic products. For Greece, a country with a robust agricultural sector and a growing interest in organic farming, the impact is particularly significant. Regulation (EC) 848/2018 introduces stricter measures to prevent contamination, enhance biodiversity, and ensure the sustainability of organic farming practices.
Key aspects of the regulation include:
Stricter Controls: Increasing the frequency and depth of inspections to ensure compliance with organic standards.
Enhanced Traceability: Improving the traceability of organic products throughout the supply chain to prevent fraud and mislabeling.
Sustainability Practices: Encouraging organic producers to adopt practices that enhance biodiversity and environmental sustainability.
The applicative regulations provide detailed implementation guidelines on:
Certification Procedures: Outlining the steps and requirements for obtaining and maintaining organic certification.
Control Measures: Specifying the control measures and inspection routines necessary to monitor compliance with the organic standards.
Labeling and Marketing: Defining the rules for labeling organic products, including the use of the EU organic logo and information on the origin of raw materials.
In Greece, these regulations are particularly relevant as the country’s diverse climates and landscapes make it ideal for various types of organic agriculture, from olive groves to vineyards and cereal crops.
A CERT’s Inspection and Certification Services in Greece
In compliance with Regulation (EC) 848/2018, A CERT provides specialized inspection and certification services for organic producers and processors in Greece. These services are designed to ensure that Greek organic products meet both EU and international standards, facilitating access to domestic and global markets.
Certification Process
A CERT’s certification process in Greece involves:
Initial Evaluation: Assessing the applicant’s current practices against the organic standards set by Regulation (EC) 848/2018.
Comprehensive Inspections: Conducting detailed on-site inspections to evaluate all aspects of the production process, from seed selection and soil management to harvest and post-harvest handling.
Documentation Review: Verifying that all necessary documentation is maintained, including records of inputs, production processes, and sales.
Ongoing Compliance and Support
A CERT also offers ongoing support and monitoring, which includes:
Annual Inspections: Ensuring continuous compliance through regular inspections and audits.
Training and Education: Providing training sessions and resources to help producers understand and implement the requirements of the organic regulations.
Corrective Actions: Assisting producers in addressing any areas of non-compliance identified during inspections.
In Greece, where the tradition of agriculture is deeply rooted in the cultural fabric, A CERT’s role extends beyond mere certification to fostering a sustainable organic sector. The services provided by A CERT enhance the credibility of Greek organic products, ensuring they are genuinely produced according to the highest environmental and ethical standards, thus reinforcing consumer trust and supporting the growth of the organic market in Greece and beyond.
Overall, Regulation (EC) 848/2018 and A CERT’s diligent implementation of its mandates in Greece are pivotal to advancing the quality, sustainability, and marketability of Greek organic agriculture on the world stage.
Applications Documents
Council Regulation
This regulation establishes the legal framework for all levels of production, distribution, control and labeling of organic products which may be offered and traded in the EU. It determines the continued development of organic production through the provision of clearly defined goals and principles. General production, control and labeling guidelines were established by the Council Regulation and can therefore only be changed by the European Council of Agricultural Ministers. The previous Regulation (EEC) No. 2092/91 is simultaneously repealed.
The new labeling regulations in connection with the obligatory use of the EU organic logo were postponed until 1 July 2010 by an amendment to the Council Regulation.
Area of applicability
The Council Regulation applies to the following agricultural products, including aquaculture and yeast:
- Living or unprocessed products
- Processed foods
- Animal feed
- Seeds and propagating material
Collection of wild plants and seaweed is also included in the scope of this Regulation
Not included in its scope:
- Products from hunting and fishing of wild animals.
Commission Regulations
The following Commission Regulations have been adopted thus far:
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008 of 5 September 2008 with detailed rules on production, labeling and control including its amendment on production rules
- for organic yeast, Commission Regulation (EC) 1254/2008 of 15 December 2008
- for organic aquaculture animal and seaweed production, Commission Regulation(EC) No 710/2009 of 5 August 2009
- Commission Regulation (EC) No. 1235/2008 of 8 December 2008 with detailed rules concerning import of organic products from third countries
In Commission Regulation (EC) No. 889/2008 all levels of plant and animal production are regulated, from the cultivation of land and keeping of animals to the processing and distribution of organic foods and their control. They go into great technical detail and are, for the most part, an extension of the original organic Regulation, except where this was regulated differently in the Council Regulation.
Multiple Annexes are attached to the Commission Regulation. Within these one can find the following:
- Products permitted in organic farming, such as fertilisers, soil ameliorants and pesticides
- Minimum requirements on the size of housing and exercise areas including pastures for organic livestock, depending on animal species and development stage.
- Non-organic animal feed, feed additives and processing aids for the production of compound feed and premixtures permitted in organic farming.
- Non-organic ingredients, additives and processing aids permitted in organic food production (including yeast production).
- Requirements on the Community logo.
These Annexes and other parts of this Commission Regulation can be supplemented by the Commission so as to keep them up to date in regard to continuing developments in technology, science and the organic market.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the new rules and to incorporate some expiring exemptions of the previous organic Regulation, transitional measures were laid down.
In addition to EU legislation on organic farming and organic production, organically operating farmers and processors must also adhere to generally applicable rules on agricultural production and processing of agricultural products. That means that all generally applicable rules on the regulation of the production, processing, marketing, labeling and control of agricultural products also apply to organic foods.
