Ingredion has developed a new simple step-by-step guide to help manufacturers looking to attract consumers who desire organic labels they can trust, to comply with the new EU regulation that will affect which products can be labelled as organic in the EU.
As detailed in the ‘Get Ready for Organic Changes’ guide, under the new organic regulation[1], now proposed to enter into force on the 1st January 2022, processed foods can still be labelled as organic provided that 95% of the agricultural ingredients are of organic origin/produced organically. The remaining ingredients will need to be on approved lists of process aids, food additives, and non-organic agricultural ingredients. New lists on permitted food additives and process aids were published in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/2164 in December 2019, and these changes will be carried through to the new regulation.
In addition, there is a proposal for a regulation restricting non-organic agricultural ingredients authorised for use in the production of processed organic food. Under this proposal, non-organic starch from rice and waxy maize will be removed from use in organic foods. Transition measures will apply to enable a phased approach to the changes. For non-organic agricultural ingredients, the new list comes into effect on 1st January 2023.
Constantin Drapatz, Senior Marketing Manager, Clean and Simple Food Ingredients, Ingredion EMEA, commented: “Today’s savvy shoppers are looking for labels they can trust, and as one of the most regulated food standards, an organic label helps consumers make an informed purchase decision and feel good about their choice. Now worth over €40billion in Europe, the organic market has doubled in size over the last 10 years[2], with one in seven product launches now organic[3]. This presents a huge opportunity for the food industry. What’s more, the coronavirus pandemic has done nothing to dampen the demand for organic, with consumers viewing these food and drink products as safer and healthier[4].”
“Organic is a consumer trend that’s here to stay. If manufacturers currently use waxy maize or rice-based starches in their organic products, they will need to reformulate to meet new regulations in order to continue labelling products as organic. Manufacturers looking at new product development of reformulation of organic foods, should do so under the new regulations as a minimum. This will help to prevent any delays or needs to reformulate in the future, and ensure they are appealing to the most discerning consumers. The new guide helps to educate manufacturers on how the new regulations impact starch ingredients and outline how to minimise their impact, to ensure organic formulations stay compliant, scalable and great tasting.”
To download your copy of ‘Get Ready for Organic Changes’, please visit: https://go.ingredion.com/organic-regulations.
