Organic farming differs from other farming systems in a number of ways.

It favors renewable resources and recycling, returning to the soil the nutrients found in waste products. Where livestock is concerned, meat and poultry production is regulated with particular concern for animal welfare and by using natural foodstuffs.

Organic farming respects the environment's own systems for controlling pests and disease in raising crops and livestock and avoids the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, chemical fertilisers, growth hormones, antibiotics or gene manipulation. Instead, organic farmers use a range of techniques that help sustain ecosystems and reduce pollution.

(Retrieved June 9, 2008 from: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/organic/def/index_en.htm)

In March 2000 the European Commission introduced with Commission Regulation (EC) No 331/2000 of 17 December 1999 a logo bearing the words 'Organic Farming - EC Control System'. This logo can be used on a voluntary basis by producers whose systems and products have been found to satisfy Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91.

Consumers buying products bearing this logo can be confident that:

• at least 95% of the product's ingredients have been organically produced
• the product complies with the rules of the official inspection scheme
• the product has come directly from the producer or preparer in a sealed package
• the product bears the name of the producer, the preparer or vendor and the name or code of the inspection body.

Also in countries outside the European Union, organic products are either legally protected, or the development of organic regulations is in progress (e.g. Norway, Switzerland).

Several EU countries have developed their own national regulations as well as national logos for organic products; in some cases this occurred long before Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 came into force.

In December 2006 the European Commission reached a general approach on the revision of the regulation.. On June 12, 2007, the Agriculture Ministers of the European Union reached political agreement on a new regulation on organic production and labelling.

The new regulation was published on July 20, 2007 and will come into force on Janury 1, 2009. As of this date the European logo will be obligatory; the national AB label will no longer be more demanding than the European rules. A tolerance of contamination by GMO is also tolerated up to 0.9%.

From the European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development website: http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/qual/organic/index_en.htm