List of control bodies and authorities in non-EU countries with equivalent organic systems

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1789 of 23 July 2026 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/2325 as regards the recognition of certain third countries, competent authorities and control bodies for the purpose of importing organic products into the Union

Update

The European Union (EU) recognises countries with systems of production and controls for organic production that are equivalent to EU requirements (Regulation 834/2007). Recognised countries can export to the EU approved categories of organic products that comply with their national rules; they do not need to meet the production, certification, and inspection rules set out in the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848.

The EU maintains a list of competent authorities and control bodies in each country responsible for inspecting and certifying products exported to the EU (Regulation 2021/2325, Annex)

This new Regulation 2026/1789 updates this list in response to information provided by the countries concerned.

Changes are made in relation to Argentina, Australia, India, Japan, South Korea, Tunisia, and the USA. Details are provided here for countries within the scope of the AGRINFO programme.

Impacted Products

Organic products

What is changing?

Under Regulation 834/2007, non-European Union (EU) countries can be recognised as having organic production and control systems equivalent to those in the EU for certain categories of products. Those countries must comply with the rules of the exporting country; they do not need to meet the production, certification, and inspection rules set out in the EU Organic Regulation 2018/848.

Under the Organic Regulation, the previous system of equivalence recognition will be replaced by recognition through bilateral international agreements. However, equivalence recognised under Regulation 834/2007 continues to apply until 31 December 2026 (the European Commission has proposed extending this to 31 December 2036, see Simplification of organic rules).

This new Regulation 2026/1789 updates the list of competent authorities and control bodies in non-EU countries that are recognised as equivalent.

For countries covered by the AGRINFO programme, the following changes are made.

Argentina

The Argentinian competent authority has recognised the control body Control Union Argentina SA.

India

• Recognition of the following control bodies is suspended:
  • Natural Organic Certification Agro Pvt. Ltd
  • Global Certification Society
  • Krushi Certification Private Limited.
• The following control bodies are recognised:
  • TQ Cert Services Private Limited
  • Baltic Testing India Pvt. Ltd.
  • Zenith Certifications Private Limited
  • Trace Assure Global Certifications Private Limited.

Tunisia

• The name of the national competent authority is changed to Direction Générale de l’Agriculture Biologique au Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Ressources Hydrauliques et de la Pêche.
• Recognition of the following control bodies is withdrawn:
  • INNORPI (TN-BIO-007)
  • CERES GmbH (TN-BIO-009).

A number of existing control bodies in India and Tunisia have also changed their names and/or website addresses.

A full list of countries, product categories, production standards, competent authorities, and control bodies can be found in the Annex of Regulation 2026/1789 (which replaces the Annex of Regulation 2021/2325).

Why?

The list of competent authorities and control bodies is updated by the European Commission on the basis of new information and requests received from countries recognised as equivalent.

Timeline

The revised list of competent authorities and control bodies applies from 26 July 2026.

Background

The Organic Regulation 2018/848 lays down the EU rules on organic production and labelling of organic products. It revises and strengthens the controls system, trade regime, and production rules that had been in place since 2007. It brings in a fundamental change to the regulatory approach, moving from the principle of equivalence to the principle of conformity. See New EU Organic Regulation explained and AGRINFO’s Guidance for organic operators and groups of operators.

Regulation 834/2007 recognised that organic goods could be produced in ways that were different, but equivalent in terms of their outcome and alignment with organic principles. The following countries are recognised as having equivalent organic production systems and controls: Argentina, Australia, Canada, Costa Rica, India, Israel, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Tunisia, and USA

Three countries – Chile, Switzerland, and the UK – have trade agreements on organic products with the EU, allowing recognition of certain categories of products (see Agreements on trade in organic products).

Resources

Sources