Message 001
Communication from the Commission - TRIS/(2026) 1861
Directive (EU) 2015/1535
Notification: 2026/0358/AT
Notification of a draft text from a Member State
Notification – Notification – Notifzierung – Нотификация – Oznámení – Notifikation – Γνωστοποίηση – Notificación – Teavitamine – Ilmoitus – Obavijest – Bejelentés – Notifica – Pranešimas – Paziņojums – Notifika – Kennisgeving – Zawiadomienie – Notificação – Notificare – Oznámenie – Obvestilo – Anmälan – Fógra a thabhairt
Does not open the delays - N'ouvre pas de délai - Kein Fristbeginn - Не се предвижда период на прекъсване - Nezahajuje prodlení - Fristerne indledes ikke - Καμμία έναρξη προθεσμίας - No abre el plazo - Viivituste perioodi ei avata - Määräaika ei ala tästä - Ne otvara razdoblje kašnjenja - Nem nyitja meg a késéseket - Non fa decorrere la mora - Atidėjimai nepradedami - Atlikšanas laikposms nesākas - Ma jiftaħx il-perijodi ta’ dewmien - Geen termijnbegin - Nie otwiera opóźnień - Não inicia o prazo - Nu deschide perioadele de stagnare - Nezačína oneskorenia - Ne uvaja zamud - Inleder ingen frist - Ní osclaíonn sé na moilleanna
MSG: 20261861.EN
1. MSG 001 IND 2026 0358 AT EN 10-07-2026 AT NOTIF
2. Austria
3A. Bundesministerium für Wirtschaft, Energie und Tourismus
Abteilung II/8
A-1010 Wien, Stubenring 1
Telefon +43-1/71100-802365
E-Mail: not9834@bmwet.gv.at
3B. Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Klima- und Umweltschutz, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft
Abteilung I 1
A-1010 Wien, Stubenring 1
Telefon +43-1/71100-602144
E-Mail: Notifikationen2@bmluk.gv.at
4. 2026/0358/AT - C00A - AGRICULTURE, FISHING AND FOODSTUFFS
5. Agrarmarkt Austria (AMA) Organic Seal Guideline
6. Primary products and foodstuffs
7.
8. The AMA Organic Seal Guideline describes a voluntary quality assurance system for organic foodstuffs. This guideline lays down requirements for participating slaughterhouses and cutting plants, treatment and processing establishments, packing and storage centres and food trade establishments.
Important content:
• In the case of processed foods, all ingredients of agricultural origin must come entirely from certified organic farming (with the exception of natural casings, pectin and yeasts, where these are not available in organic form).
• All agricultural holdings that produce organic plant or animal raw materials for AMA organic-labelled products must comply with ecological measures: Establishment of biodiversity areas on arable land, establishment of biodiversity areas on grassland, conservation of grassland perimeter, crop diversification on arable land
• Use of certified organic ingredients of agricultural origin from recognised quality assurance schemes that impose additional criteria in the area of internal control and/or product quality requirements (plant-based production: seeds, soil management/irrigation, fertilisation, plant protection, biodiversity; animal production: feeding, appropriate animal husbandry, animal health, procedures on animals).
• Participating establishments must put in place a comprehensive system to ensure good hygiene practices: in particular operational and production hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, personal hygiene, pest control, own-checking system in accordance with HACCP, staff training, allergen management, drinking water analyses
• Prohibition of packaging materials containing chlorine and obligation to choose environmentally friendly packaging types.
• Mandatory complaint management: all complaints and claims-are registered and evaluated.
• Continuous inspection upon goods acceptance: checking the quality and origin markings on delivery notes, ensuring that the labelling is complete (e.g. labels, proof of origin) and matches the goods delivered
• Mandatory regular product analyses.
• No use of foodstuff substitutes and no use of insect meal.
• A broad restriction on the use of additives and a ban on numerous additives that would otherwise be permitted in organic products.
• No use of organic palm oil or organic palm kernel oil or fats derived from them as ingredients.
• Minimum ageing period for fresh meat.
• Compliance with the requirements of the AMA Quality Label Animal Transport Guidelines for cattle and pigs.
• Conduct annual audits at AMA organic seal slaughterhouses to verify compliance with animal welfare requirements.
• Mandatory participation in the “bos” beef labelling system, the “sus” pig meat labelling system or other recognised labelling systems and consistent labelling in accordance with those systems.
• Implementation of residue monitoring by the participating establishments: risk-based monitoring system for plant and storage protection products in the establishment.
• Traceable origin.
• Control system consisting of in-house inspections carried out by the establishment itself, external inspections by independent inspection bodies and laboratories (regular laboratory analyses according to the parameters specified in the guideline) and supervisory inspections (inspection of inspection, system evaluation, witness audits).
9. The AMA quality seal guidelines are used for the production and labelling of high-quality, i.e. products that exceed the statutory standard.
The general objectives of the AMA Organic Seal Guideline are as follows:
• Transparency and traceability as regards the origin and sourcing of raw materials throughout the entire value chain.
• Continuous improvement of the quality and reliability of organic foodstuffs beyond statutory requirements.
• Further strengthening of consumer confidence in the AMA Organic Seal through independent inspection systems and regular product analyses.
The AMA Organic Seal Guideline also pursues the following specific objectives:
• Ecological objectives:
- Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in agricultural production and rural areas
- Optimisation of agricultural and forestry carbon storage
- Improvement in surface and groundwater protection
- Qualitative preservation and improvement in the condition/fertility of the soil
- Preservation of the cultural landscape and biodiversity
- Ensuring genetic diversity in agriculture and forestry
• Animal welfare, understood as respect for animals as living beings and as a fundamental prerequisite for ensuring high quality of foodstuffs.
• The aim of the mandatory use of organic agricultural raw materials from recognised agricultural quality assurance schemes is to improve the quality of products bearing the AMA Organic Seal further. This is achieved by recognising only those quality assurance systems that go beyond the statutory provisions in any case in at least several of the following areas: crop production – seeds, soil management/irrigation, fertilisation, plant protection, biodiversity; animal production – feeding, appropriate animal husbandry, animal health, interventions on animals.
9a. The AMA Quality Seal Guideline sets out the requirements for production and thus defines the quality characteristics of the organic products. Compliance with the requirements is monitored by
• Self-monitoring by manufacturers and licence holders,
• accredited control bodies and
• System controls by AMA Marketing as the operator of the quality seal system.
By establishing rules for the production that go beyond the statutory requirements and by monitoring compliance with these rules, it is ensured that the products meet the quality standards required and those expected by consumers.
Products produced in accordance with the AMA Quality Seal Guideline are labelled with the AMA Quality Seal, so that consumers can easily recognise products produced in accordance with the AMA Quality Seal Guideline.
9b. The AMA Quality Seal Guideline is open to producers from all Member States and all producers may participate in the AMA Quality Seal System. The notified draft therefore does not lead to any restriction on the internal market.
The existing statutory provisions governing organic products are insufficient to meet the demand from producers and consumers for regional, high-quality organic products, particularly with regard to the quality requirements for ready-to-sell organic foodstuffs, as these provisions provide for only a basic level of organic quality. On one hand, products with higher quality are sought after by consumers and the Quality Seal system satisfies this demand. On the other hand, higher quality products also enable a higher price and contribute to a higher income for producers.
It is a voluntary system; participation in the AMA Quality Seal is not mandatory.
9c. There is no excessive burden. Participation in the AMA Quality Seal is voluntary. Inspections are carried out on a risk-based basis, usually once a year.
10. Reference to the basic texts: No basic text available
11. No
12.
13. No
14. No
15. No
16.
TBT aspects: No
SPS aspects: No
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European Commission
Contact point Directive (EU) 2015/1535
email: grow-dir2015-1535-central@ec.europa.eu
