Checklist: using organic products for your business

‘Organic’ refers to a sustainable approach to farming and food production. This is good for the environment, animal welfare, and biodiversity. Organic farmers do not use:

• artificial fertilisers
• synthetic chemical plant protection products
• genetically modified plants and animals

The term ‘organic’ is legally protected. Products may only be labelled as organic if they comply with certain rules. For example, farmers must grow crops in soil only and not on an artificial substrate or base such as rock wool. The Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) has various videos explaining how organic farming works and when a product may be labelled as organic. The page is in Dutch but if you scroll down, you will find links to each video with English subtitles on YouTube.

> Watch the explanatory videos

Government plan to stimulate the growth of the organic sector

The Dutch government wants more people to buy organic food. This offers opportunities for entrepreneurs. Campaigns are needed to raise awareness of organic products. There also needs to be a wider range of products available across more sales channels. This is set out in an action plan for the growth of the organic sector (in Dutch). If demand for organic products increases, farmers will grow more organic produce.

By 2030, 15% of Dutch agricultural land must be organic.

More and more consumers are making a conscious choice to buy products that are sustainable and ethically produced. By adopting organic business practices, you can meet this growing demand and demonstrate what your business stands for:

• healthier soil
• cleaner water
• greater biodiversity
• improved animal welfare

In doing so, you not only make a positive impact, but also clearly set your business apart in the market. And you build trust with your customers. You also contribute to the transition towards a sustainable and climate-neutral food system. Bionext, the supply chain organisation for organic farming and food in the Netherlands, has information about the benefits of organic farming and products organised by theme (in Dutch).

Only products that comply with European organic legislation may bear the official European Union (EU) Organic label. This EU label consists of a green logo with 12 stars arranged in the shape of a leaf. You must use the label on pre-packaged foodstuffs produced in the European Union and sold as organic.

EU organic label

Skal Biocontrole issues the EU organic label on behalf of the Dutch government. Every year, Skal checks whether businesses comply with the rules for organic products. The supervising authority inspects the entire organic supply chain (in Dutch):

• production
• trade
• import
• storage
• (online) retail outlets

With this label, your customers know they are choosing a sustainable and reliable product.

Other organic labels

In addition to the EU label, there are two other Dutch organic labels. These labels comply with even stricter rules than the EU label:

• EKO-NL (in Dutch): for organically grown products originating from the Netherlands
• Demeter (in Dutch): for food products from biodynamic agriculture

The EU label, EKO-NL, and Demeter are all included in Milieu Centraal’s ‘Top Labels’ list. (Milieu Centraal, ‘environment first’ in English, is the independent knowledge centre for sustainability in the Netherlands.) Products bearing a ‘Top Label’ meet strict requirements regarding people, animals, and the environment. Using Milieu Centraal’s Label Guide (in Dutch), you can see how a label scores in terms of sustainability, reliability, and transparency.

If your business deals in organic agricultural products or foodstuffs, you will usually need an organic certificate (in Dutch) from Skal. This shows that you operate according to European organic regulations. As a certified business, you may display the European organic label on your products.

When is certification not needed?

Not all retail outlets are subject to the certification requirement. Small retail outlets often only need to register with Skal (in Dutch). For example, certification is not mandatory:

• if customers consume organic food and drink on the premises (food truck, restaurant, catering service, or other hospitality establishment)
• if you run a small shop with limited turnover from unpackaged organic products

The Dutch-language Certification Checker for physical sales outlets will help you determine whether you need to have your shop certified. On the Skal website, you will find a list of registered retail outlets (in Dutch).

> Use the Certification Checker for physical sales outlets (in Dutch)

You might find it interesting to cooperate with other businesses that specialise in organic products. This is possible within an organic region, known as a Bioregio in Dutch. In a Bioregio, organic farmers and growers, local authorities, consumer organisations, hospitality sector businesses, and other stakeholders work together to, for example:

• source as many local and organic products as possible
• share knowledge about organic farming and sustainable food
• reduce food waste

The municipality of Amsterdam and the province of Brabant, for example, have agreed on the food supply in the hospitality sector. This must consist of 25% to 30% organic products.

If you run an organic business together with other parties, you expand your market. You also become more visible to customers who want to buy local and organic products. Consider joint campaigns, markets, or events. Bioregio's work together within the Bioregio Network Nederland (in Dutch).

Vabiola: a subsidy for your collaborative project

Are you planning to collaborate with other businesses on an innovative project that will boost sales of organic products? If so, you can apply for the Vergroten afzet van biologische landbouwproducten subsidy (Increasing sales of organic agricultural products, Vabiola) from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). On rvo.nl you can find examples of collaborative projects (in Dutch). Check the conditions to see if your project is eligible for Vabiola.

> Apply for the Vabiola subsidy (in Dutch)

Use the organic product procurement guide

Are you planning to source organic products? Each product has its own rules about, for example, cultivation, processing, or animal welfare. RVO’s Dutch language organic product procurement guide explains what makes a product organic. Check the Product Guide

You must comply with Dutch and European legislation when communicating about organic products. You must not give the impression (or claim) that a product is more sustainable than it is. You may only use a claim if it is factually correct. Sustainability claims must be clear and honest. Check this with your supplier or producer.

You must be able to prove your claim. If you make a comparison in your claim, it must be clear what you are comparing the product to.