Organic: values, controls and data in Italy and in the EU

the organic is the only agri-food system governed by a uniform set of mandatory rules throughout the European Union, which since 1991 has defined production methods, labeling and controls, with certification by third-party bodies and annual inspections in every company, from the field to processing and distribution.

Italy, with nearly one hectare cultivated out of five and the European lead in the number of organic farms, is a protagonist. This article explains what organic means, what measurable benefits it brings to each actor in the supply chain, how official controls work, how to read the label, what are the updated production and market data, and what perspectives the European roadmap opens.

What ‘organic’ means

the regulation (EU) 2018/848 defines organic as a management system that combines best environmental and climate practices, the protection of biodiversity and of animal welfare, and the responsible use of natural resources (Dongo, 2018; Ferrucci & Dongo, 2022a). These principles translate into binding rules for all operators involved, throughout the entire supply chain. In summary:

• agriculture: soil fertility maintained with rotations, legumes, green manures, and organic fertilizers (Govi, 2024); synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, GMOs, and ionizing radiation excluded; conversion period of two years for annual crops and three for perennials;
• livestock farming: animals born and raised on organic farms, fed with organic feed, with outdoor access and limited densities; prevention based on suitable breeds and welfare, antibiotic use strictly limited and with doubled withdrawal periods;
• processing: at least 95% organic agricultural ingredients, a closed and reduced list of authorized additives, about one-sixth compared to conventional, excluding synthetic flavors and artificial colorants (Dongo, 2024a).

The values of the organic system for each supply chain actor

Ecosystems

The choices to apply the organic method generate measurable benefits for ecosystems. The most comprehensive systematic review available, conducted by 21 authors on 463 studies and 2,141 comparisons between organic and conventional systems in temperate climates, documents:

• a lower dispersion of nitrates from soil to aquifers (-26%), main cause of groundwater pollution;
• a contamination of waters from plant protection products (insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, etc.) lower in 92% of comparisons;
• a greater biodiversity expressed through various indicators (plant species, +95%; earthworms, +78%; birds, +35%; pollinators, +23%);
• energy consumption reduced by 45% (Sanders et al., 2025; Dongo, 2025).

The review published by FiBL for the German Ministry of Agriculture confirms a 50% reduction in nitrates in aquifers and energy consumption (Dongo, 2024a).

Farmers

For Farmers, the organic method allows to reduce dependence on external inputs and the consumption of energythus the exposure to volatility of related prices: according to the European Commission, organic farms save 75-100% of costs per hectare on plant protection products and 45-90% on fertilizers compared to conventional ones and, despite yields being 5-30% lower, achieve similar or higher income per worker due to higher prices and dedicated EU support (European Commission, 2023).

The analysis of France Stratégie on six agroecological systems indicated organic as the only system capable of guaranteeing, once conversion is complete, a margin From 25% net of CAP aid (Strinati, 2020). Organic farms are also larger than average and led by younger entrepreneurs (European Commission, 2023).

In the CAP strategic plans 2023-2027, organic farming has about 19 billion euros, an average of 148 euros per hectare (European Commission, 2025). The Commission's proposal for the CAP 2028-2034 allocates at least 300 billion euros to farmers for income support (European Commission, 2025a), unfortunately without dedicating a share to organic farming: it is now up to the European Parliament and Council to introduce it and, subsidiarily, to Member States in national and regional partnership plans.

Consumers

For Consumers, the choice of organic guarantees the absence of synthetic pesticides, minimization of veterinary drug residues in animal products, minimal food additives and certified traceability of every step, from the field to the shelf, with mandatory indication of the origin of agricultural raw materials on the label of all products.

Official data confirm that in 2023, 80% of the 7,074 samples organic analyzed in the EU did not contain quantifiable residues of pesticides, compared to 58% of total samples, and only 0.9% exceeded legal limits, compared to 3.7% overall (EFSA et al., 2025).

A systematic review of 21 studies links the consumption of organic foods to lower exposure to pesticides and a reduced cardiometabolic risk, including obesity, diabetes and hypertension (Poulia et al., 2025). Several scientific studies have also shown the higher presence — in some categories of organic foods compared to conventional ones — of phenolic compounds and other phytocomplexes as well as microorganisms beneficial to health (Dongo & Della Penna, 2021; Dongo & Ferrucci, 2019).

Processing companies

For Processing companies, organic is a differentiation lever protected by law: the terms ‘biologico’, ‘bio’ and ‘eco’ are reserved for certified products and the EU logo is recognized in all markets. The demand is growing at every scale:

• the market global exceeded 145 billion euros in 2024 (FiBL, 2026a);
• the market EU reached 49.5 billion (+3.6%) (FiBL, 2026b);
• theexport Italian organic is worth 3.9 billion euros, +7% on 2024 and +174% in ten years, a growth much higher than that of the agri-food sector as a whole (Nomisma, 2026).

The price premium recognized by the market, combined with the stability of supply relationships with certified farmers, allows companies to remunerate the supply chain and invest in quality.

Distribution and catering

For the distribution, organic is a constantly growing category that builds loyalty among attentive customers: in the 2025 large-scale distribution in Italy achieved 3.5 billion euros in organic sales (+6,1%), i specialized stores have grown by 7,5% and out-of-home sales are worth 1.35 billion.

Seven Italians out of ten have consumed organic out of home in the last year, over 80% of restaurants and 70% of bars use organic ingredients, primarily for a premium positioning (51%) and for coherence with ethical and sustainability values (46%), and 26% of operators plan to increase organic purchases in the next two or three years (Nomisma, 2026).

How controls and certifications work

Every certified organic operator, from the farm to the distributor, must notify their activity and undergo additional controls by an accredited certification body authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests (MASAF), which operates under the public supervision provided by regulation (EU) 2017/625. The essential rules are as follows:

• on-site inspection at least once a year, extendable to 24 months only for low-risk operators without non-conformities in three consecutive years (EU regulation 2018/848, article 38);
• unannounced controls (at least 10% each year), additional controls (at least 10%), sampling and analysis on at least 5% of operators subjected to controls (EU implementing regulation 2021/279, article 7);
• accessible certificates to the public, documentary traceability of each batch, exchange of information between Member States on irregularities and fraud through the OFIS system (Organic Farming Information System);
• imports from third countries admitted only with an electronic inspection certificate on TRACES (TRAde Control and Expert System) and bodies recognized by the Commission.

In Italy the legislative decree of 6 October 2023 n. 148, which replaced legislative decree 20/2018, regulates controls, traceability, and sanctions. Unless the act constitutes a crime — such as the crime of food fraud — the abusive use of the terms ‘organic’, ‘bio’ and ‘eco’ is punished with administrative sanctions up to 5% of turnover, between 5,000 and 100,000 euros (legislative decree 148/2023, article 23).

Accidental contaminations and pesticide residues: the regulatory issue in Italy

European monitoring confirms thereliability of the organic system: traces of pesticides and other synthetic chemicals are marginal and mainly derive from environmental contamination, not fraud (Dongo & Mei, 2022; Pinton, 2024).

Precisely the management of accidental contaminations — technically inevitable in a continent where almost 90% of fields are instead treated with pesticides — is the most relevant open issue:

• the ‘Vade Mecum on Official Investigation in Organic Products’, drafted by 25 experts from 8 Member States, proposes good practices for the application of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (articles 28-29) inspired by uniformity and proportionality, avoiding product blocks and unjustified waste (Dongo, 2024b; Pinton, 2024);
• theItaly instead continues to apply to organic products, since 2011, the very strict threshold of 0.01 mg/kg for pesticide residues and other substances not allowed in organic farming: one gram per one hundred tons of food, the same limit set for foods intended for infants. Beyond this threshold, the product cannot be marketed as organic, even when the residue comes from environmental contamination unrelated to the operator (Dongo & Mei, 2022);
• theItalian approach expresses an additional protection, but translates into a disproportionate burden for the main actors of Made in Italy — farmers and processing companies — compared to European competitors, whose products circulate freely in Italy even with accidental residues above that threshold (Pinton, 2024).

How to read the organic product label

The label of a pre-packaged organic food produced in the EU always shows:

• the European logo (the leaf of stars on green background);
• the control body code (for Italy 'IT-BIO-' followed by three digits);
• the origin of the agricultural raw materials: 'EU Agriculture', 'Non-EU Agriculture‘ or ‘EU/non-EU Agriculture‘, replaceable with the name of the Country, and in addition the region, when all raw materials come from that territory (regulation (EU) 2018/848, article 32; ministerial decree 110692/2025; Ferrucci & Dongo, 2022b).

From 2026 operators can add the Italian organic brand, provided for by law 23/2022 and implemented by the MASAF decree of May 26, 2026: a voluntary and free logo — reserved for certified organic products made exclusively with agricultural raw materials obtained in Italy — to be placed next to the EU logo and in no larger size. Some compatibility issues with the single market remain to be clarified, which have long been highlighted (Strinati & Dongo, 2022).

The numbers of organic in Italy, the European Union and the world

Italy

According to Eurostat, the share of agricultural area used (Utilized Agricultural Area - UAA) destined for organic in Italy has almost doubled since 2014 (10.91%), reaching in 2024 the 19,49% (Eurostat, indicator SDG 02.40 updated to August 7, 2026). The ISMEA report ‘Organic in Figures 2025‘ specifies the following data, relating to 2024:

• 2,514,596 hectares organic, +2.4% over 2023 and +68% in the decade, 20.2% of the national UAA;
• 97,170 operators (+2.9%), of which 87,042 farms (+3.4%), +62% in ten years;
• seven regions and one autonomous province already above the EU target of 25%: Tuscany, Calabria, Sicily, Marche, Basilicata, Aosta Valley, Campania and Bolzano, with Apulia (24.5%) and Lazio (23.4%) close behind (ISMEA, 2025).

Market and export

The SANA Observatory of Nomisma estimates for the 2025 product sales organic in Italy equal to 6.9 billion euros (+6,2% on 2024):

• 5.5 billion domestic consumption, of which 64% in large-scale retail (3.5 billion, +6.1%) and 20% in specialized stores (+7.5%);
• 1.35 billion out-of-home.

theexport reaches 3.9 billion euros, +7% in 2024 and +174% over 2014 (Nomisma, 2026). ISMEA reports for large-scale retail alone domestic purchases of 3.96 billion in 2024 and a growth of 10.6% in the first half of 2025 (ISMEA, 2025).

European Union and world

The FiBL-IFOAM report ‘The World of Organic Agriculture 2026‘ indicates for theEU 18.1 million hectares in 2024, the11.1% of the agricultural area, and 49.5 billion euros in retail sales, more than half in Germany (17 billion) and France (12.2 billion) (FiBL, 2026b).

At the level global organic covers 98.9 million hectares with 4.8 million producers and a market By 145 billion euros, led by the United States (60.4 billion), Germany and China (15.5 billion) (FiBL, 2026a).

The EU roadmap and prospects for the sector

On December 17, 2025, the European Commission presented the package ‘Organic rulebook fit for the future‘: a targeted revision of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 (COM(2025) 780) and a simplification roadmap, with estimated administrative savings of 47.8 million euros per year and the update of the EU organic action plan in 2026 (European Commission, 2025; Dongo, 2026).

The proposal clarifies the rules on equivalence imports, simplifies the group certification and reduces burdens for small operators. The Council adopted its position on May 11, 2026, and the European Parliament’s AGRI committee on July 14, 2026; the agreement is expected by the end of the year (Council of the European Union, 2026).

Conclusions: a win-win option

Organic remains a model based on binding rules, rigorous inspections and constant analytical checks, capable of generating documented benefits for ecosystems, biodiversity and climate. From field to fork, the supply chain gains tangible benefits: reduced input costs and stable incomes for farmers, high safety and traceability standards for consumers, and a constantly expanding commercial category for processing and distribution.

Italy leads the growth of the sector in Europe in terms of area, operators, consumption and foreign markets, with many territories already exceeding community targets set for 2030. The ongoing challenges, from managing accidental contaminations to regulatory updates under discussion in Brussels, demonstrate the vitality of a mature system, rooted for over thirty years and oriented towards a future of further sustainable development.

Dario Dongo

Credit cover Being Organic in EU

References

European Union regulatory sources

Regulation (EU) 2017/625 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 March 2017 on official controls and other official activities. Consolidated text: 05/01/2025. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2017/625/2025-01-05

Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007. Consolidated text: 25/03/2025. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2018/848/2025-03-25

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/279 of 22 February 2021 laying down detailed rules for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 on controls and other measures ensuring traceability and compliance in organic production and the labelling of organic products. OJ L 62, 23.2.2021. http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2021/279/oj

Documents of the European Union institutions

Council of the European Union. (2026, 11 May). Organic farming: Council negotiating position on simpler and clearer organic farming rules agreed [Press release]. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2026/05/11/organic-farming-council-negotiating-position-on-simpler-and-clearer-organic-farming-rules-agreed/

European Commission. (2023, 18 January). Organic farming in the EU: a decade of growth (Agricultural Market Brief No. 20). https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/news/organic-farming-eu-decade-growth-2023-01-18_en

European Commission. (2025, 16 December). Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) 2018/848 as regards certain production, labelling and certification rules and certain rules on trade with third countries (COM(2025) 780 final, 2025/0417(COD)). https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=COM%3A2025%3A780%3AFIN

European Commission, Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development. (2025, 17 December). Organic rulebook fit for the future. https://agriculture.ec.europa.eu/media/news/organic-rulebook-fit-future-2025-12-17_en

Italian regulatory sources

Law March 9, 2022, no. 23. Provisions for the protection, development, and competitiveness of agricultural, agri-food, and aquaculture production using organic methods. Normattiva. Last consolidated version: 07/13/2024. https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:legge:2022-03-09;23!vig=

Legislative Decree October 6, 2023, no. 148. Adjustment of national legislation to the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 2018/848 regarding organic production and labeling of organic products, and the provisions of Regulation (EU) 2017/625 regarding official controls. Normattiva. https://www.normattiva.it/uri-res/N2Ls?urn:nir:stato:decreto.legislativo:2023-10-06;148

Decree of the Ministry of Agricultural, Food and Forestry Policies May 20, 2022, no. 229771. Provisions for the implementation of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 relating to organic production and labeling of organic products. https://www.masaf.gov.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/IT/IDPagina/18177

Decree of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forests May 26, 2026. Conditions and methods for granting the Italian organic label. Official Gazette, General Series No. 160 of July 13, 2026. https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/eli/id/2026/07/13/26A03407/sg

Statistical sources and reports

Eurostat. (2026, August 7). Area under organic farming [Dataset sdg_02_40]. https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/sdg_02_40/default/table?lang=en

FiBL – Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. (2026a, February 11). Global organic market hits all-time high in 2024 – Farmland holds steady at 99 million hectares. https://www.fibl.org/en/info-centre/news/global-organic-market-hits-all-time-high-in-2024

FiBL – Research Institute of Organic Agriculture. (2026b, February 10). Europe’s organic market sets another record in 2024 – Farmland stable at 19.6 million hectares. https://www.fibl.org/en/info-centre/news/europes-organic-market-sets-another-record-in-2024-farmland-stable

ISMEA & CIHEAM Bari for MASAF. (2025). Organic in Figures 2025. https://www.ismeamercati.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeAttachment.php/L/IT/D/1%252F9%252Fd%252FD.6a384bd4f41fb8df3b0b/P/BLOB%3AID%3D13718/E/pdf?mode=inline

Nomisma. (2026, February 23). The 7th edition of Bio Revolution 2026 presented. https://www.nomisma.it/press-area/presentato-rivoluzione-bio-2026/

Scientific literature

EFSA (European Food Safety Authority), Carrasco Cabrera, L., Di Piazza, G., Dujardin, B., Marchese, E., & Medina Pastor, P. (2025). The 2023 European Union report on pesticide residues in food. EFSA Journal, 23(5), e9398. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9398

Poulia, K.-A., Bakaloudi, D. R., Alevizou, M., Papakonstantinou, E., Zampelas, A., & Chourdakis, M. (2025). Impact of organic foods on chronic diseases and health perception: a systematic review of the evidence. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79(2), 90–103. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41430-024-01505-w

Sanders, J., Brinkmann, J., Chmelikova, L., Ebertseder, F., Freibauer, A., Gottwald, F., Haub, A., Hauschild, M., Hoppe, J., Hülsbergen, K.-J., Jung, R., Kusche, D., Levin, K., March, S., Schmidtke, K., Stein-Bachinger, K., Treu, H., Weckenbrock, P., Wiesinger, K., Gattinger, A., & Heß, J. (2025). Benefits of organic agriculture for environment and animal welfare in temperate climates. Organic Agriculture, 15(2), 213–231. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13165-025-00493-w

Insights

Dongo, D. (2018, June 22). Organic, EU Reg. 2018/848. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/pianeta/biologico-reg-ue-2018848/

Dongo, D. (2024a, January 2). The advantages of organic farming, FiBL scientific review. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/pianeta/i-vantaggi-dellagricoltura-biologica-rassegna-scientifica-di-fibl/

Dongo, D. (2024b, August 14). Organic, handbook on official investigations. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/biologico-vademecum-sulle-indagini-ufficiali/

Dongo, D. (2025, April 20). The benefits of organic farming: a comprehensive review. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/benefici-agricoltura-biologica-revisione-sistematica/

Dongo, D. (2026, January 5). Organic farming: the EU roadmap. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/agricoltura-biologica-roadmap-ue/

Dongo, D., & Della Penna, A. A. (2021, June 29). Organic extra virgin oil, organic olives and health. The polyphenols that matter. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/consumatori-e-salute/olio-extravergine-biologico-olive-bio-e-salute-i-polifenoli-che-contano/

Dongo, D., & Ferrucci, D. (2019, July 28). The time of organic apples. Much better for health, science shows. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/pianeta/il-tempo-delle-mele-bio-tanto-meglio-per-la-salute-dimostra-la-scienza/

Dongo, D., & Mei, A. (2022, October 18). Pesticide residues in organic products, accidental contaminations under control. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/pianeta/residui-di-pesticidi-nei-prodotti-bio-contaminazioni-accidentali-sotto-controllo/

Ferrucci, D., & Dongo, D. (2022a, February 2). Production and labeling of organic products, EU Reg. 2018/848 starts. The ABC. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/produzione-ed-etichettatura-dei-prodotti-biologici-al-via-il-reg-ue-2018-848-labc/

Ferrucci, D., & Dongo, D. (2022b, July 8). Organic, new labels for short and fair supply chains. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/consumatori-e-salute/biologico-nuove-etichette-per-filiere-corte-e-giuste/

Govi, J. (2024, October 11). Organic farming, fertilizers allowed in the EU. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/pianeta/agricoltura-bio-i-fertilizzanti-ammessi-in-ue/

Pinton, R. (2024, August 27). Organic farming and residues from unauthorized substances. Troubles in Italy. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/agricoltura-biologica-e-residui-da-sostanze-non-ammesse-i-guai-in-italia/

Strinati, M. (2020, August 30). Agroecology, 6 systems compared. The benefits of organic for farmers. Analysis. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/agroecologia-6-sistemi-a-confronto-i-vantaggi-del-bio-per-gli-agricoltori-analisi/

Strinati, M., & Dongo, D. (2022, March 7). Italian organic law, more shadows than lights. Interview with Roberto Pinton. Food Times. https://www.foodtimes.eu/it/sistemi-alimentari/legge-italiana-sul-bio-piu-ombre-che-luci-intervista-a-roberto-pinton/