After the organic product leaves the field, it is possible to undergo several phases until consumption.

All stages require the same care, professionalism and compliance with the regulations of organic agriculture by the organic producers, in order to assure that the final product is 100% organic.

Organic Products’ Processing

The processors, the sellers and the food distributors of organic products have the same goals – supply foods that respect the environment and the natural cycle.

Follow the principal values in the agricultural products’ processing:

• The use of additives and the food processing are limited
• Only small quantities of synthetic ingredients are allowed
• No use of genetically modified organisms is allowed

Legal frame for the organic products’ processing

The producers and the processors are obliged to follow specific legal requirements so that the products bear the European Logo and the detection about the Organic Agriculture.

According to the EU Regulation on the organic agriculture:

• Most ingredients will come from organic production
• The non organic agricultural ingredients may be used only if recognized by the European Commission or the country-member
• Only small quantities of additives or assistant means of processing may be used under specific conditions
• Technical flavors, coloring or taste substances are not allowed
• The organic and the non organic materials should be stored, traded and processed separately in all cases

Controls for the organic product processors

According to the above requirements and specifications, the organic sector’s processors in the European Union are inspected at least once a year in order to assure the compliance with the EU legal obligations.

Organic Agriculture and Environment

The respect to the environment is inherent component of the organic agriculture.

The organic agriculture constitutes a production method that combines the environmental practices, high-leveled biodiversity and preservation of natural sources.

The biocultivators in the European Union should respect the natural systems and cycles, assure the health of soils, water, plants and animals and contribute to the high levels of biodiversity. The biocultivators are extremely prudent to the use of energy and natural resources, e.g water, soil, organic substances and air.

Soil

The soil constitutes undoubtedly the most important but also the most neglected natural resource. It is important for life in the planet, since it offers food and oxygen to people and animals.

The biocultivators respect the value and the importance of the soil, by observing carefully the additions and the acquisitions as well as the way their activities affect the soil’s composition and fertility.

They do not only wish to maintain the soil in a healthy, fertile and natural status – but try to boost it by supplying the proper nutritive elements and improvements in the soil composition and the efficient water management.

Biodiversity

The general principle of organic agriculture is that each living organism should be separately estimated: from the tiniest microorganism that lives in the soil to the higher/older tree. Therefore, all links of the organic food supply chain is oriented to maintain and, if possible, improve the diversity of plants and animals. The practices that contribute to the high levels of biodiversity are often the result of good cultivating practices and the EU Regulation for the organic agriculture.

Water

The biocultivators usually consider the water as an inflow in the cultivating cycle but also a vital source for the strengthening of life in the land that should be protected and reinforced with careful management.

It is true that in general the farmers do not use purposelessly the water, because they know how vital its prudent use is for the successful growth of plants and animals. And since the water use is not adequately covered by the EU Regulations, the methods of organic production contribute to the maintenance of water resources and the high quality of those water sources.

Environment

The biocultivators may see the results of their hard work not only on the satisfaction of the consumers but also on the surrounding fields, streams, trees and hills.

Although the EU Regulation for the organic agriculture does not provide particular practices to be used for the contribution to the natural environment’s management and protection, other rules and volunteer practices followed by the farmers may have positive influence for perpetual action.

All agricultural works include the modification of the natural environment, however the organic agriculture attempts to reduce this influence as much as possible, so that the organic farms coexist harmoniously with the environment.

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