Council of the European Union approves law in which pet food can be labelled with EU organic production logo if it contains 95% organic agricultural ingredients; pet owners to find it easier to buy organic pet food while farmers tap into burgeoning market

BRUSSELS , October 13, 2023 (press release) –

The Council of the European Union has issued the following news release:

The Council today gave its final green light on a new EU law that will align the rules regarding the labelling of organic pet food to those governing the labelling of organic food intended for human consumption. The new regulation will make it easier for pet owners to purchase organic food for their pets. It also provides an opportunity for farmers engaged in organic production.

Pets are an important part of our lives and our families. With these new and updated rules, it will be easier for pet owners to buy organic food for their pets. At the same time, the regulation will make it easier for producers to enter the organic pet food market and will improve certainty for EU consumers.

Luis Planas Puchades - acting Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain

Greater certainty for consumers

Under the new regulation, pet food can be labelled with the EU organic production logo if 95% of its agricultural ingredients are organic. This is in line with the rules for organic food intended for human consumption and reflects the EU's high standards for organic products.

The regulation also makes it easier for consumers to identify organic ingredients in the pet food they buy, and makes the EU organic production logo mandatory for prepacked organic pet food.

Improved market access for producers

Since 1 January 2022 , the date of application of the EU regulation on organic production, pet food can only be labelled as organic if all its agricultural ingredients are organic. The new regulation amends this to 95% (in terms of weight). This will make it more feasible for pet food producers to satisfy organic labelling requirements and to enter the market. This is in line with the Farm to Fork Strategy goal of boosting organic production so it can reach 25% of the EU's agricultural land use by 2030.

To ensure stability for producers, organic pet food that was labelled in accordance with national rules or in line with private standards between 1 January 2022 and the date of entry into force of the regulation can still be sold until stocks are exhausted.

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