Moldovan Agriculture Ministry says demand for organic products growing; how consumers can recognize truly “eco” products

Organic farming is gaining more and more ground both globally and in Moldova, amid rising consumers’ interest in healthy products and environmentally friendly production methods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry (MAIA) warns that products labeled as “eco”, “bio” or “organic” may be marketed under these names only if they are certified in accordance with current legislation.

According to MAIA, organic farming is a sector in continuous development and demand for such products is increasing both on international markets and on the domestic market. In this context, the authorities emphasize the importance of complying with certification standards, in order to guarantee the authenticity of organic products.

“Organic farming is an increasingly widespread practice, appreciated by consumers. At present, globally, this sector is quickly developing and demand for organic products is constantly growing,” notes the Agriculture Ministry.

For a product to be marketed as organic, farmers must get a special certificate confirming compliance with the production and processing rules specific to organic farming. Certified products must meet a string of clear and verifiable conditions.

Thus, the product label must display the national logo “Organic Farming – Republic of Moldova” or the European Union logo for organic products. Under this logo, the code of the control body that carried out the certification must be indicated. At the same time, the producer must be included in the official list of operators registered in organic farming, and the product must have gone through the full inspection and certification process.

“Consumers need to know that the terms ‘eco’, ‘bio’ and ‘organic’ can legally be used only for products that have been certified. These designations are strictly regulated by legislation and cannot be used arbitrarily,” specifies the MAIA.

The authorities say that the use of these terms is regulated by Law No. 237/2023 on organic farming and by European Union Regulation 2018/848. Under these legal acts, the use of the designations “eco”, “bio” or “organic” in companies’ names, trademarks, on labels or in advertising materials is prohibited, if the product is not certified organic.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry recommends that consumers pay close attention to products’ labels and check for elements confirming organic certification. If in doubt, buyers may request from retailers the certificate of conformity for the organic product.

“To make sure that a product on the shelf is truly organic, consumers have the right to ask the store for the certificate of conformity. The latter confirms that the product has gone through all stages of control and certification,” the ministry’s representatives also say.

The authorities believe that the development of organic farming can significantly contribute to environmental protection, to the diversification of agricultural production and to enhancing the competitiveness of Moldovan producers on foreign markets, given that demand for organic products continues to grow globally.