If you produce, process, label or trade in organic food and feed in Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales), you’ll have to follow GB rules from 1 January 2021.

GB will recognise the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland as equivalent for the purpose of trade in organics until 31 December 2023.

Food and feed certified as organic in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will continue to be accepted as organic in GB until 31 December 2023.

The EU has recognised the UK for the purpose of exporting organic products to the EU until 31 December 2023.

Food and feed certified as organic in GB will continue to be accepted as organic in the EU until 31 December 2023.

Certificates and labels

You’ll still need to be certified by an approved UK organic control body if you produce, process or import organic food for trade within the UK.

You must include details of your organic control body on the label of organic food you produce, process, sell or import.

There are different labelling requirements depending on whether your organic product is produced for GB, the EU or other third (non-EU) country markets.

If you’re:

• certified to GB standards and sell your products in GB, the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland, you must continue to include your UK allocated control body code ‘GB-ORG-XX’
• exporting to other third countries, you must include the ‘GB-ORG-XX’ code as this confirms that you’re certified to the GB domestic standards

The following statements of agriculture become mandatory on products produced in GB:

• ‘UK Agriculture’ – where 98% of the ingredients are produced in the UK
• ‘UK or non-UK Agriculture’ – where the product is produced with ingredients grown in and outside the UK
• ‘Non-UK Agriculture’ – where 98% of the ingredients are produced outside the UK

This change must be made by 30 September 2022.

Using organic logos

As the EU has recognised UK, you may continue to use the EU organic logo on GB organic food or feed until 31 December 2023. The EU organic logo will be optional. If used, it must meet the EU organic labelling requirements and statement of agricultural origin.

If you use the EU organic logo for exports to the EU, you’ll need to include both the GB statement of agriculture (‘UK or non-UK Agriculture’) and the EU statement of agriculture (‘EU or non-EU Agriculture’).

You can continue to use your UK organic control body logo.

Find out about food labelling changes from 1 January 2021.

Importing organic food from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland to GB

As a temporary measure, organic products imported into GB from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will not require a certificate of inspection (CoI) until 30 June 2021.

From 1 July 2021, organic products imported into GB from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland will require a CoI. You’ll use the interim manual GB organic import system.

To request the forms for the manual GB organic import system, contact your organic control body.

Moving organic food from Northern Ireland (NI) to GB

There will be no change to the movement of organic goods from NI to GB.

You will not need a CoI if you’re moving goods from NI to GB.

Importing organic food from non-EU countries to GB

All organic goods imported from non-EU countries must continue to have a valid CoI.

You will no longer use the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System New Technology (TRACES NT) to import organic food and feed into GB.

You’ll use an interim manual GB organic import system from 1 January 2021.

To request the forms for the manual UK organic import system, contact your organic control body.

Exporting organic food from GB to the EU

As the EU has recognised the UK control bodies, you can export GB organic food and feed to the EU until 31 December 2023.

From 1 January 2021, all organic goods exported to the EU must have a valid CoI using the EU’s Trade TRACES NT system.

Contact your control body to:

• approve your business on TRACES NT for exports
• stay up to date

Moving organic food from GB to NI

Under the terms of the Northern Ireland Protocol, EU Organic Regulations will continue to apply in NI.

From 1 January 2021, the movement of organic goods from GB to NI must be accompanied by a valid CoI using the EU’s TRACES NT system. There’s an easement on this requirement until 30 March for some organic goods moving to NI retailers and their trusted suppliers. You can email nisupermarketandsupplierlist@defra.gov.uk if you have any questions

Contact your control body to:

• approve your business on TRACES NT for exports
• stay up to date

Exporting organic food from the UK to non-EU countries

Some non-EU countries may require an export certificate for each consignment. You should check with the country you’re exporting to.

Trading rules should stay the same for countries that accept UK goods without an equivalency arrangement (an agreement to accept each other’s standards).

The EU has equivalency arrangements with some non-EU countries. This guide will publish details of any trade agreements that the UK agrees with other EU countries to continue trading from 1 January 2021.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) will contact importers and food manufacturers if any trade agreements change.

Importing or exporting organic food between NI and the EU

There will be no changes to imports or exports of organic food between NI and the EU. Trade in organics will continue as before.