The new rules cover new products, such as sea salt and cork, competition between European and imported products, include rules on agricultural production, livestock production and aquaculture and harmonize responsibilities and certification systems.
The rules on the use of seeds, traditional varieties adapted to the region, which tend to be more robust and resistant to diseases may be commercialized, until now, these varieties could not be used or could hardly be sold in Europe. Regarding certification, small producers and processors will be able to form groups, which will reduce the costs of certification and controls.
The possibility of being awarded group certification up to a small village, due to the inherent cost reduction. Small sellers of organic products, but not producers (with sales of up to 20 thousand euros / year), as is the case with some traders in organic markets, are exempted from certification as an operator.
Other less positive aspects are that the European Union may come to accept minimum levels of pesticide contamination, starting in 2024; that each member state can define limits for the detention of chemical residues, or levels of contamination, and the reduction of mandatory controls. Currently, producers, stores or industries are subject to control actions once a year, it will only be every two years.
By January 2021, community institutions will define the rules for the implementation of the entire new legislative framework.