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Italy

The EU Organic Regulation

Italy is a member state of the European Union. In all member states of the European Union, the Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848 sets out the rules of the production and labelling of organic products. The new Regulation (EU) 2018/848 is in force within the EU since 01 January 2022, but transitionary rules are provided for implementation of certain provisions, in particular on trade.

The regulation defines the rules for import of organic products into the union and has significant implications for Third Countries outside the EU, who wish to export organic products to any EU country beyond the end of the transitionary period for import from most countries on 31 December 2024. The transition period for organic imports from “recognized third countries” (13 countries, as per 08/2023) is until 31 December 2026 with less direct implications for operators.

Link to more information about Organic Regulation (EU) 2018/848

Mandatory Organic Standards and Labels

In Italy, EU legislation on organic farming is fully implemented. Additionally, some national rules apply. They are not relevant for companies exporting organic products to Italy. 

The competent authority responsible for the implementation of EU and national organic legislation is the Ministry of agricultural food, forestry and tourism policies. 

Pre-packed organic products sold in Italy have to be labelled with the EU organic farming logo. For products imported from third countries the use of the EU organic farming logo is optional. A mandatory national organic logo does not exist.

Basic Regulation on production and labelling of organic products
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on the organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.
Note: The website displays the basic regulation effective since 2009 as well as all references, amendments and corrections. The actual consolidated version for download can be found under the heading “all consolidated versions”. This basic regulation describes the objectives, principles and most important rules on production. It is complemented by the rules for implementation (see below). Updates are performed regularly and promptly.
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Regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products
Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007.
In 2018, the European Council adopted the new EU Regulation 2018/848 on organic production which will apply from 1 January 2021. It describes the “basic act”. It will be complemented by so-called “delegated acts” and “implementing acts” which will be elaborated in 2019 and 2020.
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European Commission
Website of the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development of the European Commission with information on organic farming and EU legislation.
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National regulations on organic farming in Italy
Overview on regulations concerning organic farming in Italy. Choose “normative nazionale” to get a list of the national rules. The national rules are only relevant for Italian companies, not for companies exporting organic products to Italy. 
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Ministry of Agricultural Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies (MIPAAFT)
Website of the Italian Ministry of agricultural food, forestry and tourism policies (Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari, forestali e del tourismo – MIPAAFT), the competent authority for organic farming in Italy.
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Voluntary Organic Standards and Labels

In Italy, there is no voluntary national organic label. Private standards play a minor role. There is one farmers’ association (AIAB) and some certification bodies (such as BioAgriCert, CCPB, ICEA) with private standards, but they have little relevance for the Italian organic market - with exception of the non-food sector, e.g. cosmetics and detergents, where they are playing a major role in the market.

Federbio, the Italian Federation of Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture, is the umbrella organisation of the organic sector in Italy.

Italian Association for Organic Agriculture (AIAB)
Website of the Italian Association for Organic Agriculture (Associazione italiana per l’agricoltura biologica – AIAB) with comprehensive information on the association and its standards.
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Bioagricert
Website of the control and certification body Bioagricert informing about its activities. Bioagricert has own standards with little relevance for the Italian organic market.
 
CCPB srl
Website of the control and certification body CCPB informing about its activities. CCPB has own standards with little relevance for the Italian organic market.
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Institute of Ethical and Environmental Certification (ICEA)
Website of the control and certification body ICEA informing about its activities. ICEA has own standards with little relevance for the Italian organic market.
 
Federation of Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture (Federbio)
Website of the Federation of Organic and Biodynamic Agriculture (Federbio - Federazione italiana agricoltura biologica e biodinamica), the umbrella organisation for the organic sector in Italy.
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Control Bodies

The organic control and certification process is performed by private control bodies approved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MIPAAF). The control bodies are supervised by regional control authorities. The approval of some of the control bodies is limited to the region South Tyrol in the north of Italy. The up-to-date directory of Italian control bodies is published by the EU.

Control Bodies
List of Control Bodies and Control Authorities in the organic sector.
Provided is the link to the actual list of control bodies and control authorities in the EU in the organic sector in accordance with Article 28 of Council Regulation (EU) No 2017/625 as well as a link to the archive of consolidated lists of all designated control authorities and approved control bodies in the EU, as well as of the control authorities and bodies in the EEA countries and in Switzerland for the previous years.
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Import Requirements

The procedure for the import of organic products into Italy depends on the country of origin. Within the European Union, organic products can be marketed freely in all Member States. Organic products from countries outside the European Union can be imported into Italy if the exporting country is listed in the directory of recognised third countries or the products have been certified by a control body authorised by the EU Commission as equivalent.

Sales of organic products from EU countries

Italy belongs to the European Union. Within the European Union, the principle of free movement of goods applies for organic products subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. Organic products which have been produced or processed in an EU member state or which are imported from third countries into another EU member state can be marketed freely in Italy. 

Import of organic products from non-EU countries

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.

Organic Farming Information System: List of recognised Control Bodies and Control Authorities for the Purpose of Equivalence
List of control bodies and control authorities for the purpose of equivalence and relevant specifications referred to in article 10 of Regulation (EC) 1235/2008.
Directory of control bodies recognised as equivalent sorted according to name of control body. Listed are countries and product categories for which the recognition applies. This list is updated irregularly.
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European Commission: Information on TRACES
The website of the European Commission provides general information on TRACES as well as detailed instructions.
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EU-Login
Website to create an EU-Login, which is a requirement to register with TRACES. 
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TRACES - Trade Control and Expert System / CoI - Login
Website to register with TRACES.
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Further Information

General information on organic agriculture in Italy.

Ministry of Agricultural Food, Forestry and Tourism Policies (MIPAAFT)
Website of the Italian Ministry of agricultural food, forestry and tourism policies (Ministero delle politiche agricole alimentari, forestali e del tourismo – MIPAAFT). 
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National information system on organic agriculture in Italy (SINAB)
National Information System for Organic Farming (SINAB) established by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry in collaboration with Italian regions. This platform provides regularly updated information and services to organic stakeholders.
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Organic Europe: Italy
Summary report on organic farming in Italy. The site is updated irregularly.
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Global Organic Trade Guide: Italy
Website of the American Organic Trade Association (OTA) providing information on international organic trade. Although designed for U.S. exporters, some of the provided information might also be interesting for exporters from other countries.
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