Organic Farming

Organic farming is a sustainable production system.

It provides the opportunity of an alternative farming system based primarily on balancing inputs and outputs in a 'closed' system. Increased consumer awareness of food safety issues and environmental concerns has contributed to the growth in organic farming over the last few years.

Organic farming requires: the consideration and application of production methods that do not damage the environment; a more respectful use of the countryside; concern for animal welfare and the production of high-quality agricultural products.

Organic agriculture is a farming system which relies on crop rotations, the recycling of farm-produced organic materials, that is, crop residues, animal manure, legumes, green manure and off-farm organic wastes and on a variety of non-chemical methods for the control of pests, diseases and weeds. Synthetically compounded fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, growth regulators and livestock feed additives are excluded or severely restricted. The products and methods of genetic engineering are also strictly prohibited.

Organic farmers can access a range of services and information from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

If you are an organic food consumer, the department can help connect you with producers and also understand how this emerging market works. Explore the content below to find out the full list of information available.

Organic Farming

Organic Farming is a specific system of farming whose aim is to produce quality food in a manner beneficial to the environment and to wildlife. Organic farmers practice farming in accordance with standards, which have been formulated for crop and livestock production. The thrust of these standards is to develop a system of farming that co-exists with other systems, sustains soil fertility and protects the environment, wildlife and non-renewable resources.

Organic production and labelling of organic products is controlled by European and national regulations, that is, Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council as amended. The EU legislation allows Member States to use private inspection bodies to carry out the inspection and licensing system of organic operators. certification bodies are approved to carry out this work in Ireland :- Irish Organic Association (IOA), Organic Trust Limited (OT).

• Irish Organic Association (IOA) Website: https://www.irishorganicassociation.ie/

• Organic Trust (OT) www.organictrust.ie

Organic farming involves undergoing a period of conversion in which the land and producer adjust to the organic methods.

The conversion period for the change from conventional to organic farming depends on the type of enterprise which are outlined in the table below:

In certain cases, the conversion period may be extended or reduced by the inspection body subject to the approval of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

The time periods required above are initiated by the farmer submitting his/her farming enterprise to inspection and certification by one of the Certification Bodies outlined above.

Prior to commencing conversion, the farmer must submit an application along with a conversion plan, drawn up by either the farmer or a qualified planner to the inspection body for approval. The farm is then inspected by the inspection body who will then adjudicate on the application. For more detailed information on this process, the farmer should contact any of the approved inspection bodies.

After the required conversion period expires, the inspection body may issue organic status to the farmer (unless the conversion period is being extended), which allows the farmer to sell his/her produce as organic.

There is often a financial cost associated with conversion. These costs vary widely according to individual circumstances but would be influenced by some of the following factors:

• output reduction due to changes in production practices

• capital investments in land, machinery, livestock housing

• certification and inspection costs

• loss of some direct support payments, for example: eligibility for livestock headage payments where numbers are reduced, and

• inability to command premium prices during the conversion phase

It is recommended that farmers considering the organic option seek advice on the principles of organic farming.

A major factor that distinguishes organic farming from other approaches to sustainable farming is the existence of internationally acknowledged standards and certification procedures. The standards for organic production within the European Union are defined and enshrined in law by Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council and associated secondary legislation - Implementing and Delegated Acts.

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and its associated secondary legislation , create a framework defining in detail the requirements for agricultural products or foodstuffs bearing a reference to organic production methods. The rules not only define the methods of production for organic crops and livestock, but it also regulates the labelling, processing, inspection and marketing of organic products within the European Community and the importation of organic products from non-member countries.

In Ireland the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the competent authority (that is, the department's Organic Unit is based at Johnstown Castle Estate, Wexford) for regulating the organic sector and ensuring that the obligations and requirements Regulation (EU) 2018/848 and its associated secondary legislation are adhered to.

Organic Demonstration Farm Walks Promotional Video (Teagasc)

Organic Farming Scheme

Organic Processing Investment Grant Scheme

Opportunities and supports for organic processors - Webinar

• https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/recording/5979815365589110358

The Organic Seeds Ireland website is the official Irish database of organic seed availability. The database is funded by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and managed by the Soil Association, working in partnership with FiBL.

The website provides information on organic seeds, vegetative propagation material and seed potatoes. It is designed to be used by organic farmers and growers to find organic seeds. It also helps certification bodies to authorize derogations and seed companies seeking to market certified organic seeds.

If you search the database and find the varieties you need are not available you must seek a derogation from your certification body before purchasing non-organic seeds.

Organic Seed Database

In accordance with EU Regulation 625 of 2017, I wish to formally notify your organisations that the department as the Competent Authority has designated Biolytix Limited and Eurofins Food Testing Ireland Limited as Official Control Laboratories in respect of organic produce.

2024

2023

2022

2021

2020

• Organics - Circular 2 of 2020 - Brexit and the Irish Organic Sector
• Organics - Circular 3 of 2020 - Avian Influenza

Circulars from 2017 to 2019

• Circulars
• EU Organic Logo

The organic sector receives substantial direct financial support from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS)

Organic producers may also qualify for support under the other direct payment and investment schemes, which are open to all farmers. They may also avail of supports offered by various other state agencies, which include amongst others:

• Bord Bia
• Enterprise Ireland
• Udaras Na Gaeltachta

• Education and Training for Organic Food and Farming

https://www.bioc.info/

Importing organic products

To import organic food or feed into Ireland from a Third County (outside the EU) you must be a certified organic importer in Ireland. All imports of organic food or feed that arrive into Ireland from outside EU are subject to specific requirements such as organic certification, TRACES registration, product inspections and possible laboratory analysis.

How to become a certified organic importer

Step 1: Register with an Organic Control Body (OCB) to receive an organic licence:

Contact one of the below OCB’s and they will guide you through the certification process:

13 Inish Carraig, Golden Island, Athlone, Co. Westmeath

Tel: (0906) 433680, Web: https://www.irishorganicassociation.ie/

Unit M4, Naas Town Centre, Dublin Road, Naas, Co. Kildare.

Tel: (045) 882377, Web: organictrust.ie

Step 2: Register with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Central Registrations Unit (CRU) informing them of your intention to begin importing organic products from third countries.

This can be done by clicking on the following this link Register to Import or Export and following the instructions. Queries with the registration process should be emailed to BrexitRegistration@agriculture.gov.ie and informing them of your intention to begin importing organic products from third countries.

Step 3: Register for The Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES)

TRACES is the European Commission’s online platform for sanitary and phytosanitary certification required for the importation of animals, animal products, food and feed of non-animal origin and plants into the European Union, and the intra-EU trade and EU exports of animals and certain animal products.

If you are trading in live animals or products of animal origin, the operator responsible for the consignment will also need access to the online system TRACES.

Recorded generic TRACES training on on How to create an EU login and Operator Role Request may be helpful and see below login guide.

Here is the link to the Traces Website

Once you have registered on TRACES, the operator’s organic licence should be sent to: organicimports@agriculture.gov.ie

Step 4: Register for the Imports Notification Inspection System (INIS)

The Imports Portal is a simple and fast way to login to Agfood.ie and notify the Department in advance of planned Organic imports from third countries.

The portal can also be used to view submitted declarations and upload additional information/documents that might be required.

Registered Imports Portal link:

https://agfood.agriculture.gov.ie/sso-auth-ui-intermediary/#/login

Visit Brexit and the Agri-Food Sector for more detail on the import process and how to register.

Step 5: Submit advance notification of any organic consignment arriving into Ireland from third countries via the INIS portal Imports Portal. Please note all advance notifications must be made at least one working day prior to the consignment arriving in Ireland.

For more information, please see circular 01/2024 regarding Organic Control Bodies, Importers, First Consignees and Exporters

Before making the notification please have to hand:

• TRACES NT Certificate of Inspection (COI) details

• Customs Import Declaration details (MRN)

• Required supporting documents

• Username/PIN/Password

• Use case identity (ID) for further correspondence

MRN is issued to the agent when a declaration using the AIS system is completed and uploaded to Revenue’s system. Organic products should be declared by using the code C644 (The MRN will remain at the registered status until arrival in Ireland. Then it will come under Customs control and can be processed.)

No matter what stage the MRN is at you should still get a number once the declaration is made, which can then be used in the INIS system. This declaration can be made well in advance of the goods arriving in Ireland. You need to use code IM “D” which is for an import declaration lodged in advance of arrival.

For further information see key information for exporting goods

Obligations of Importers and First Consignees

As the Competent Authority DAFM wishes to advise importers and first consignees of the requirement to check that there is a valid and endorsed Certificate of Inspection (COI) for each consignment, whereby the status of the COI is ‘consignment verified’.

Importers and first consignees should be aware that following reception of advance notification, DAFM, as Competent Authority, carries out relevant checks and completes Box 30 of the COI, declaring whether the consignment is:

• Clearable – whereby the product is free for circulation as organic

• Clearable as conventional – whereby the consignment is released for free circulation a

• conventional, NOT as organic

• Not clearable – Consignment cannot be released for free circulation in the EU

There is an obligation on the first consignee (company listed in box 24), as set out in Article 13 of Commission Regulation 1235/2008, to complete box 31 of the COI, to certify that:

1. The COI has been validated by the Competent Authority (Box 30)

2. The consignment is in appropriate packaging or container, closed in a manner preventing

substitution

3. There is identification on the consignment that includes details of the exporter and other marks and numbers that identify the lot with the certificate of inspection

Once box 31 of the COI is complete, the first consignee shall then send the original hard copy certificate to the importer mentioned in box 11. Please note that due to COVID-19, there is derogation as regards the obligation to have a paper version of the certificate of inspection. This is set out in Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/977.

Goods cannot be sold as organic until such time as the Certificate of Inspection status is as First Consignee Declaration Signed (Box 31).

The importer must retain the certificate for a period, not less than two years, and make available on the request of the organic control authority or the control body.

Organic Import Regulations and legislation

The following list of European legislation governs organic imports and is in effect since 1 January 2022.

This is a non-exhaustive list and is intended as a guide only.

Council Regulation 2017/625 (OCR: Official Controls Regulation on food and feed)

Council Regulation 2018/848 (Organic Basic Act)

Organic import legislation

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2307 – Rules on documents and notification

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 – Recognised control authorities and third countries

Commission Delegated Regulation(EU) 2021/2305 – Cases where organic products are exempt from BCP controls

Commission Delegated Regulation(EU) 2021/2306 – Official controls on organic imports

Additional Controls on Imported Organic Products from certain Third Countries

In addition, please also be aware that there are additional control requirements on products imported from certain non-EU countries. Details of these additional controls can be found here:

Trade in Organics

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS PAGE COVERS THE ORGANIC SIDE OF IMPORTS YOU MAY NEED OTHER DOCUMENTS FOR YOUR IMPORTS

For further information on Import procedures and CHED information can be found here: Registration and Procedures for Import of Plants and Plant Products

Exporting Organic Produce from Ireland to Great Britain

New rules relating to the export of organic products from Ireland to Great Britain (GB) will be introduced from February 2027 From that date, organic products exported from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland to Great Britain will require a Certificate of Inspection (COI).

Under the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland (IE/NI Protocol) Northern Ireland is treated as an EU Member State in terms of movement of goods. As a result, there is no change to the movement of organic goods to or from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.

To obtain a COI, an exporter must be registered with an Organic Control Body (OCB). In Ireland there are two OCBs; the Irish Organic Association, the Organic Trust and. Exporters must also be registered with the Department of Agriculture Food & the Marine (DAFM) as an organic producer, an exporter, and a food business.

To request a COI, exporters must notify their OCB of their intention to export goods outside the EU. The OCB then checks the information provided including Exporter, First Consignee, Importer, Port of Loading, Destination, Product name, CN codes, weight, manufacturer, Shipping Identification information. Details of the Organic Control Body are also required. If the application meets the requirements, the OCB completes and stamps the COI and returns it to the exporter by post. The turnaround time is normally 24 hours, but this can vary depending on the time the information is submitted, and the quantity of COIs required. A hard copy of the COI must accompany the consignments.

Exporters of organic produce to Great Britain (GB) are required by UK legislation to give advance notice of the arrival of an organic import. The importer is required to use the interim manual GB organic import system to provide notification of the upcoming import. GB importers are also advised to contact the Port Health Authority (PHA) where the consignment is due to arrive to verify what documentation is acceptable.

• Legislation (europa.eu)

Public Consultation on the Draft National Organic Strategy up to 2030

Information Webinar - Call for proposals optimising short supply chains

For Restricted Veterinary Practices

EU organic regulation (EU 2018/848) states that while mutilations which lead to stress, harm, disease or the suffering of animals are banned, specific operations essential to certain types of production and for the sake of security for animals and human beings may be permitted under restricted conditions. In addition, appropriate breeds shall be chosen and shall contribute to the prevention of any suffering, avoiding the need for the mutilation of animals

If you would like permission to carry out any of the restricted practices detailed below, please refer to section 3 of the Organic Food and Farming Standards in Ireland 2.03, register on Database for organic animals and complete the steps are per the below guide.

Stock Derogation

For buying in conventional breeding females (Only where organic stock are not available)

EU Organic Regulations (EU 2018/848) state that organic stock must be used whenever they are available. If suitable quantities or breeds of organic livestock are not available, prior authorisation must be obtained and approved by DAFM to purchase non-organic livestock.

If you would like permission to buying in conventional breeding females please register on Database for organic animals.

Poultry Derogation

For Buying in Non-Organic Poultry (Only where organic poultry are not available)

EU Organic Regulations (EU 2018/848) state that organic stock must be used whenever they are available. If suitable quantities or breeds of organic poultry are not available, prior authorisation must be obtained and approved by DAFM to purchase non-organic poultry. .

If you would like permission to buying in non-organic poultry please register on

Database for organic animals and complete the steps are per the below guide.

The Organic Trading Hub

The establishment of the Organic Strategy Forum marked an important milestone in guiding the future direction of the Organic Sector in Ireland. Bringing together 23 organisations spanning the supply chain from farm through to market, the Forum offers a platform to identify and agree critical actions needed to promote growth and identify perceived linkages within the sector.

One of the actions identified was the need within the sector for a dedicated resource for Certified Organic Operators to trade with each other. The development of this website is in response to this call, which is supported by the Organic Strategy Forum. The doubling of numbers within Organic Farming since December 2022 and the revised Climate Action Plan target of 10% of all land farmed organically by 2030 has made the delivery of this website an important focus of the Forum.

Who We Are

The Organic Strategy Forum, comprises of a range of experts from the farming and food processing sectors, organic certification bodies and relevant State Agencies. The primary function of the group has been to focus on the continued implementation of the National Organic Strategy 2025 and any related actions and supports necessary to remove the barriers to the growth of the sector. The development of a new strategy for the sector has begun and the forum will be key in delivering this important task.

About Us

The Organic Trading Hub will serve as the central platform connecting organic farmers and suppliers, facilitating the buying and selling of certified organic livestock and feedstuff across the country.

What We Do

Through our user-friendly online platform, organic farmers can showcase their high-quality produce and livestock to a wide network of buyers, both locally and nationally. We firmly believe that supporting organic farmers is not just about making transactions but also about building meaningful relationships within the organic community.

Our Services

1. Organic Marketplace: Our platform offers a comprehensive marketplace where organic farmers can list their livestock and feeding stuff for sale. Simultaneously, buyers can explore a wide range of organic animals and products.

2. Events Calendar: The Organic Hub has a calendar feature which will facilitate industry wide organic related demonstrations, workshops, seminars, and networking events, providing organic farmers with opportunities to learn from experts, share experiences, and stay up to date with the latest trends in organic agriculture.

To continue to the Organic Trading Hub click on this link: Organic Trading Hub

Commercial Horticulture Conference