Organic certification

Companies aspiring to export their farming and agricultural products to non-European Union states such as the US, Canada, Australia and Japan must apply to do so online at easyagroexpo.gov.gr, which has just been launched.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forests has initiated a new register for producers, processors, traders, importers and storage facility owners involved in the country's organic foods market.

The register seeks to ensure comprehensive monitoring of organic food in the country

Organic farmers are preparing a protest for the Ministry of Agriculture because most of them have not received the European funds they are allocated to under the Rural Development Program, the BNR announced. The National Bio-Association has said that they believe that officials are blamed for lack of funds and that the Ministry of Agriculture is complicit in draining European money.

Specialised farmers' markets selling organic products will be opened in five Bulgarian cities - Sofia, Plovdiv, Varna, Burgas and Veliko Tarnovo.

Only certified producers will be able sell their produce at these markets, private bTV station informs.

In order to be eligible to sell at the markets, producers will have to possess certificates for each of the exhibited products.

The penetration rate of organic products in the Greek market remains relatively low, according to an industry survey conducted by Infobank Hellastat (IBHS), which underscores the sector?s turn toward exports for survival.

The retailers of FMCG (Fast Mover Consumer Goods) in Romania do not market local organic fruit and vegetables, despite the fact that the marketing degree of such produce without organic certification has increased to 55%, according to the survey 'Retailer Scorecard 2014,' issued on Thursday for AGERPRES.

The "Bio-Romania" Association of Organic Agriculture Operators recommends that all farmers should register as organic agriculture operators in 2014 until the deadline, Aug 29, 2014, and submit requests to get financial support that could exceed 600 euros in 2015 for the farmers undergoing a period of conversion.

BELGRADE - Serbia's area under organic farming totaled 8,228 hectares in 2013, which is an increase of 32 percent compared to the year before, the Serbian Chamber of Commerce (PKS) data indicate.