Fairtrade applauds the EU Organic Regulation’s aim to strengthen integrity of organic production by applying the same rules to all organic certified operators within the EU and worldwide, but simplification measures are urgently needed now. 

The regulation that comes into effect 15 October 2025, requires producers to comply with stricter production, management, and audit rules. This requires an economic investment for farmers who already find it challenging to earn a living income that covers their food, housing, health care, and education costs .

That is why, together with the Fair Trade Movement, we are calling on the EU Commission to adopt a series of simplification measures, in particular specifying the required legal changes to comply with the EU’s definition of a Group of Operators (GoO) are compatible with national law, increasing the maximum annual organic turnover to qualify for group certification, clarity on accepted residue thresholds when testing, and reasonable transition periods, among others.   

There are more than 800 Fairtrade certified organic producer organisations located in Asia, Africa, and Latin America who must adhere to the requirements of the legislation. According to Fairtrade’s estimates, 60 percent of Fairtrade certified organic coffee producers, 60 percent of Fairtrade certified organic cocoa producers, and 95 percent of Fairtrade organic small-scale banana producers are affected by the new EU Organic Regulation.

In fact, Fairtrade producer costs could increase anywhere from 50-200 percent to maintain EU organic certification, and many producers can’t afford to absorb such increased costs and therefore ceasing organic production may be their only option.

Fairtrade continues to support producers when it comes to the EU Organic Regulation such as working with FLOCERT on guidance for restructured producer organisatons, as well organising trainings for producer network staff and webinars and explanatory documents for impacted producer organisatons. 

For Fairtrade integrity in agricultural production is at the heart of our work and we welcome efforts to strengthen it, but the business and supply reliability of Fairtrade organic products, along with the livelihoods of more than estimated 800,000 families, are at risk and action is needed now.