Nepal’s PM Directs Creation of National Organic Certification Body
In a meeting with the Organic Association Nepal (OAN), Prime Minister Balendra Shah ordered subordinate bodies to urgently establish a domestic organic certification agency. The mandate resolves a long-standing industrial bottleneck where smallholders were forced to pay exorbitant fees for international third-party certification. The government also agreed to evaluate resuming a 75% subsidy for organic certification costs
EU Organic Trade Regulations
European Union co-legislators are racing to finalize updates to organic food import rules before current regulations expire on December 31, 2026. The European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee has advanced a report to initiate negotiations with the Council, aiming to extend organic equivalency arrangements with non-EU countries until 2036 to prevent supply chain disruptions. The proposed revisions also tighten rules on using the EU organic logo for imports, ensuring compliance with a 2024 European Court of Justice ruling. These measures aim to support the EU’s internal organic production while stabilizing trade flows.
Ukraine Modifies Organic Farming Laws to Match EU Standards
President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed Law No. 4921-IX to completely overhaul Ukraine’s organic agriculture framework. This new legislation aligns national rules for organic production, labelling, and certification directly with European Union standards. A key feature of the law is the introduction of group certifications for small-scale farmers. This collective approach lowers certification costs and helps smaller producers compete fairly in international export markets. Ultimately, the harmonisation aims to streamline trade and boost Ukrainian organic exports into the EU.
Source: https://odessa-journal.com/ukraine-updates-organic-production-rules-to-align-with-eu-standards
EU Secures Organic Sea Salt Certification
The European Parliament’s AGRI Committee approved a compromise package on July 22 to safeguard organic sea salt certification under Regulation (EU) 2018/848. By a 37 to 4 vote, lawmakers dropped restrictive amendments, providing long-term legal certainty for alternative, natural mineral producers throughout the EU. This decision secures the industry, protecting traditional production methods from restrictive regulations. The move represents a significant win for sustainable, natural mineral producers aiming for organic recognition.
Organic Insect-Based Fertilizer Drives 27% Yield Boost in East Africa
Researchers at Kenya’s International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology have rolled out an organic, insect-derived fertilizer using black soldier fly larvae. By recycling local organic waste, the larvae produce a nutrient-dense insect frass that contains significantly higher nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels than traditional compost. Field trials demonstrate that this sustainable bio-input increases crop yields for regional staples by 27% compared to alternative organic fertilizers. This decentralized, nature-based technology offers smallholder farmers a cost-effective alternative to expensive, imported synthetic fertilizers.
EU- India Pact: Trade Mission Pushes Organic Brands into Indian Hubs
The European Commission has finalized a high-level trade delegation schedule to establish a strong market presence in India. Capitalizing on the landmark EU-India Free Trade Agreement concluded in January 2026, the mission aims to significantly boost bilateral commerce. European Commissioner for Agriculture Christophe Hansen will personally lead a business delegation to Mumbai and Delhi in early autumn 2027. The strategic campaign will heavily focus on introducing premium European organic agri-food and beverage brands to India’s rapidly expanding consumer market.
Honey Fraud: US Beekeepers Sue Over Cheap Imports
A coalition of US honey producers is suing the USDA over alleged loopholes permitting the import of fraudulent foreign honey labeled as organic. The lawsuit contends that foreign imports, particularly from Brazil and Canada, fail to meet strict domestic chemical-free standards and utilize self-inspection. This regulatory disparity allows cheaper products to flood the market, creating unfair competition for American beekeepers. The producers are seeking to remove the USDA organic seal from these imports to protect the integrity of the label.
Source: https://organiceye.org/failure-by-usda-to-enforce-federal-organic-law-prompts-lawsuit/
Conscious Kitchen Brings Organic Food to California Schools
Sausalito-based Conscious Kitchen is expanding its efforts to connect school districts with local, organic farmers, aiming to serve 6 million California students. As a 2024 Food Planet Prize finalist, the nonprofit secured $150,000 in recognition of its work to reduce the environmental impact of school food systems. The organization supports this shift by organizing cooperative purchasing and collaborating with suppliers to introduce organic options into school menus.