The UK Government has laid the Organic Production (Amendment) Regulations 2025 before Parliament on 22 October 2025, with commencement on 1 January 2026. The instrument applies in England, Wales and Scotland and was made on 21 October 2025 following consent from the Scottish and Welsh Ministers and a consultation under the retained EU framework.
The changes extend time‑limited derogations embedded in Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. As it stands, Article 42(b) permits the introduction of non‑organically reared pullets of not more than 18 weeks only until 31 December 2025 where organically reared pullets are unavailable; Article 43 permits up to 5% non‑organic protein feed for porcine and poultry species for calendar years 2022 to 2025. The 2025 instrument moves these arrangements on by providing cover for 2026.
For egg producers, the pullet rule now runs to 31 December 2026. Non‑organically reared pullets up to 18 weeks may be brought into organic flocks only where organically reared pullets are not available, and subject to existing welfare and housing conditions. Prior authorisation by the competent authority remains the baseline, and operators must retain evidence supporting any use of this flexibility.
For feed, where farmers cannot obtain protein feed exclusively from organic sources, up to 5% non‑organic protein feed may be used during the calendar year 2026 for piglets not exceeding 35 kilograms and poultry not more than 30 weeks old. Producers should ensure ration planning, purchasing records and age or weight thresholds are documented in case of inspection.
Food processors face a targeted change on additives. High‑acyl gellan gum (E 418) should be sourced from organic production, with a fallback to non‑organic supply only where sufficient organic quantities are unavailable. This updates the trajectory signalled in 2022, which had anticipated a full switch to organically produced gellan gum from 1 January 2026.
Legally, the Secretary of State has exercised powers in Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007 to amend the retained implementing rules in Commission Regulation (EC) No 889/2008. The instrument extends to England, Wales and Scotland and was made with the consent of devolved ministers. For operators, the practical effect is a defined 12‑month window in 2026 during which specified derogations remain available, subject to authorisation and record‑keeping.
Control bodies are expected to keep authorisation processes in line with the retained EU framework. Operators using these derogations should compile supplier statements showing non‑availability of organic pullets or protein feed, maintain purchase and delivery records, and keep contemporaneous logs of flock age and piglet weights. Inspectors may review this documentation alongside existing organic control checks.
Supply‑chain planning should begin ahead of the 1 January 2026 start date. Egg producers may wish to confirm pullet orders and contingency arrangements with suppliers, while pig and poultry producers should update feed contracts and ration formulations to cap non‑organic protein at 5% through 2026 if needed. Processors relying on gellan gum should review contracts to prioritise organic supply and retain evidence where market shortages persist.
According to the Explanatory Note, no standalone regulatory impact assessment has been prepared on the basis that no, or no significant, impact is foreseen for the private, voluntary or public sector. Certification bodies and operators should nonetheless treat 2026 as a fixed period for derogations and plan for tighter sourcing expectations thereafter unless further regulations are made.