Organic products from countries outside the European Union (so-called third countries) can be imported into the EU and labelled with reference to organic agriculture and the EU organic logo, if they comply with the legal requirements of EU legislation for organic production and labelling and have been controlled and certified at all levels of production, processing, storage and marketing.

The procedure for the import of organic products into any country of the European Union depends on the country of origin. Once imported into any member state, organic products can be marketed freely in all Member States of the EU.

Organic Products from third countries can be exported to any EU member state depending on the country of origin:

Option 1: Import from “recognized third countries“

Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, India, Israel, Japan, Republic of Korea, Switzerland, Tunisia, USA and New Zealand (status: 08/2023)  

Until 31 December 2026, During the transitionary period, the country must either be listed in the EU directory of recognized third countries (Annex I of Regulation 2021/2325) or have a trade agreement with the EU in place for organic products (See Agreements on trade in organic products).

From 1.1. 2027 onwards, a trade agreement for organic products must be in place, or the products will need to be certified under Option 2, which also applies to products not covered by the trade agreement.

Option 2: “Recognized control bodies” (import from all other third countries)  

The products must be certified by a Control Body (CB) recognized by the EU to control and certify organic products in the respective Third Country.

Until 31.12.2024: During the transition from the equivalence to the new compliance system, recognized equivalent CBs are listed in Annex I of Regulation 2021/2325 and continue to certify in according to the equivalence rules of the previous regulation. Third country CBs need to re-apply to the EU to be recognized for certification in compliance with Regulation 2018/848.

From 1.1.2025 onwards, only CBs recognized for certification in compliance with 2018/848 in the Annex of Regulation 2021/1378 can certify products to be imported into the EU as organic.

Customs clearance and import notification

Each batch of organic products imported into the EU has to be accompanied by an electronic certificate of inspection (COI) This electronic certificate of inspection has to be generated via TRACES (Trade Control and Expert System). Each company involved in the export and import procedure has to register in the TRACES database.

Consignments intended for import into the EU are subject to official control by the control body in the Third country. The relevant CB needs to verify the consignment by means of systematic documentary checks and risk based physical checks before the consignment leaves the Third country. The CB issues the CoI in TRACES according to the model in the Annex (see Regulation (EU) 2021/2306)

There are new rules regarding documents and notifications required for EU import of organic products, which are important for exporters. This includes amended provisions for the COI; rules for prior notification before arrival (via TRACES)  min. 1 working day before arrival. Since June 2022 COIs can no longer be issued on paper and are issued bearing a qualified electronic seal. The COI must be issued before the consignment leaves the Third Country. (see Regulation (EU) 2021/2307)

The importer or its representative company notifies the relevant competent authority, responsible for verifying organic consignments about the consignment. imports through TRACES and via a separate notification via e-mail. Depending on the type of product, the consignment is verified at the point of entry (border control post) or at the point of release for free circulation. The competent authority performs official control on consignment for verification of compliance with 2018/848, including an examination of the COI and other supporting documents as well as, where required, results of residue tests or analysis (see Regulation (EU) 2021/2306).

Organic produce that requires a phytosanitary certificate have to pass through Border Control Points (as opposed to “Border Control Posts”), with stricter controls and a limited number of EU ports of entry (see Regulation (EU) 2021/2305)

After customs clearance, the imported lots can be traded freely in all member states of the EU.