Ecological import certificates 2026: what changes for bio importers

Key data

If you import ecological products from outside the EU, this regulation affects you directly from 25 June 2026. The Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1398 amends Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 and updates which foreign certification bodies have official validity to certify that an imported product meets European ecological standards, in accordance with Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848.

The risk is not abstract: if your supplier in a third country works with a body that has been removed from the list or whose recognition has changed, the certificate they provide you will not be valid in the EU. This can result in batches being held or rejected at customs, loss of the ecological label for those lots and, consequently, inability to market them as bio products in the European market.

What does this regulation establish?

The European system for importing ecological products requires that any product from a country outside the EU that wants to be sold with the European bio label must have a certificate issued by a control body officially recognized by the European Commission.

This recognition is managed through the list in Article 46 of Regulation (EU) 2018/848. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/1378 is the instrument that collects and periodically updates that list. The new Regulation 2026/1398 introduces modifications to that list: some bodies may have been added, others removed or the conditions of their recognition modified.

In practice, the list determines:

• Which foreign certification entities can issue ecological certificates with validity in the EU.
• For which countries and product categories each body is recognized.
• What conditions those bodies must meet to maintain their recognition.

The regulation does not establish an explicit adaptation period: its entry into force occurred on the same day it was signed, 25 June 2026, one day before its publication in the EU Official Journal.

Economic and operational impact

The economic impact of this update depends directly on whether the bodies your suppliers work with remain on the recognized list or not. The possible scenarios are:

• Supplier's body remains on the list: no operational impact. Certificates issued continue to be valid for importing and marketing in the EU.
• Supplier's body has been removed or modified: certificates issued by that body may not be accepted at the border. This involves costs for holding goods, possible destruction or re-export of the batch, and loss of the price premium provided by the ecological label.
• Supplier's body has changed its recognition conditions: it may affect certain product categories or countries, requiring review of the supply chain for those specific cases.

The price differential between a conventional product and an ecological one in the European market can be significant. Losing the bio label on a batch not only involves the direct cost of rejection, but also the loss of that additional margin for all affected goods.

Who does it affect?

• Importers of ecological agri-food products from countries outside the EU (fruits, vegetables, cereals, legumes, processed products, etc.).
• Distributors and operators that market in Europe bio products of non-EU origin under their own brand or on behalf of third parties.
• Food and large distribution companies that have suppliers in third countries with ecological certification.
• Foreign trade and customs advisors that manage customs clearances of imported ecological products.
• Control and certification bodies that operate in third countries and whose recognition status may have changed.

Practical example

Imagine a Spanish company that imports ecological quinoa from Bolivia. Its Bolivian supplier works with a local certification body that until now was included in the list recognized by the EU under Regulation 2021/1378.

With the entry into force of Regulation 2026/1398 on 25 June 2026, that certification body could have been removed from the list, or its recognition conditions could have been modified for certain product categories.

If the importing company does not verify this change before the next shipment arrives, the batch could be held at Spanish customs as it cannot prove that the ecological certificate was issued by a recognized body. The result: storage costs in customs warehouse, possible re-export of the batch and loss of the premium price associated with the bio label for that goods.

The solution is simple but urgent: consult the updated list of Regulation 2026/1398 and confirm with the supplier that their certification body remains valid.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the full text of Regulation 2026/1398 in the EU Official Journal to identify exactly which bodies have been added, removed or modified compared to Regulation 2021/1378.
2. Identify all suppliers in third countries that supply ecological products and the certification body each one works with.
3. Cross-reference that list of bodies with the updated list of Regulation 2026/1398 to detect possible incompatibilities.
4. Contact affected suppliers to change to a certification body recognized by the EU, if necessary, before new shipments arrive.
5. Inform your customs and logistics team about the changes so they verify the validity of certificates in each import clearance.
6. Review contracts with suppliers to include clauses requiring the use of certification bodies recognized by the EU at all times.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/./legal-content/AUTO/?uri=OJ:L_202601398