Organic farming is gaining more ground globally and in the Republic of Moldova amid rising consumer interest in healthy products and environmentally friendly production methods. The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry of Moldova (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, 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 rapidly developing and demand for organic products is constantly growing,” the Agriculture Ministry noted.
For a product to be marketed as organic, farmers must obtain a special certificate confirming compliance with production and processing rules specific to organic farming. Certified products must meet a number 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 appear in the official list of operators registered in organic farming, and the product must go 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,” MAIA stated.
Authorities say the use of these terms is regulated by Law No. 237/2023 on organic farming and by Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Under these legal acts, companies may not use the designations “eco”, “bio” or “organic” in their names, trademarks, labels or advertising materials if the product is not certified organic.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry recommends that consumers carefully check product labels and look for elements confirming organic certification. If in doubt, buyers may request the certificate of conformity for the organic product from retailers.
“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. This document confirms that the product has passed all stages of control and certification,” ministry representatives said.
Authorities believe that the development of organic farming can significantly contribute to environmental protection, diversification of agricultural production and the strengthening of Moldovan producers’ competitiveness on foreign markets, as global demand for organic products continues to grow.